Toddler scared of baby crying....

[moonprayer]

Desperately need some help! We have just got a new baby last Saturday. I have tried my best to minimize impacts on my 2yo boy, and he has been so sweet to his little sister so far. But he is so scared when the baby is crying (which is unavoidable).... What should I do? I keep comforting him and telling him that this is normal for babies, but he only wants me holding him when the baby cries, but I really don't have that many hands... I feel so bad for him when I couldn't comfort him as he has been behaving so well... Need suggestions from all the wise mums here!

Eeek! No advice but expecting our second soon too with same gap as you. I hadn't even thought of this! Congratulations on the new baby and I hope he settles down soon. x

I have a five month and a three year old who was two when baby was newborn. I know its really difficult. My oldest used to really panic and get worked up when his sister cried. It took a few weeks for him to get over it i found getting him to help comfort her helped him so id say ' oh dear shes crying again can you find a clean nappy (or whatever she needed) ' thrn when she stopped make a point of her being happy now her big brothers sorted her out x

Hi rosepetalsoup, good luck with everything!

Thank you dicko1, that is helpful. I actually tried to do it in the same way, such as getting my toddler to find nappies or cotton balls. It is just so difficult to watch when I see his little face went scared and rush to find anything to help stopping his little sister crying. I nearly burst into tears... And yet still had no hand to comfort the poor little guy... I guess I probably should just leave the baby cry for 5min and give my little toddler a big long hug.

It is hard but it does get better. My two are like best friends now. Hope he soon improves x

I'm nearly in tears thinking of all that little toddler empathy! Maybe show him that YouTube video of a baby crying then stopping when she hears someone singing Taylor Swift to show that babies cry over sweet FA at times!

My toddler would have smoothered the baby so I taught her to say 'shhh'. And later to play peekaboo, which was quite successful. Now my 'baby' is well past one it was cute to see her try the same routine with a friend's baby.

I have a 18month old and a 8 week old and we found the same in the early days, sometimes I would just hold both for a few min so the older one stopped crying and then carryon with sorting the little one. Also doing things like taking off little ones nappy, hug older child, put on new nappy so both are bein taken care off.

And tbh the older one has watched me an gets things for the little one (bottle, dummy, muslin cloth etc) that he see us using and will try to comfort her now if he sees her crying so it is a short phase which is good.