Does my child feel left out?

[ellalouise90]

My 3 year old daughter Heidi Rose is expecting a new little sister on 2nd July and has already started showing signs of jealousy and as though she feels left out and as a parent this breaks my heart as I would never want my child to feel like this and I am scared that if when the new baby comes along it will really affect her? For example I went a bought the new baby some clothes and I even bought Heidi a new little dress and she got really upset saying 'baba got more than me, you love baba more' is this normal? X

She knows something is changing and is feeling anxious, that's normal. Maybe visit your library and get some books for her about having a new sibling? Try to make sure she feels involved and important e.g. ask her to choose what clothes/toys baby would like? I've heard a lot of people say that buying an older sibling a gift 'from' the new baby helps the sibling relationship get off to a better start. She will adjust, and gain a special sibling relationship, so try not to let her see you are worried x

Agree with gandtforme. Get Heidi involved as much as possible so she sees the baby as her baby too. We got a gift from dd2 to dd1, it was in her cot when dd1 came to visit us in hospital. Yes to a book on new sibling and giving your eldest “important” jobs to do for the baby and loads of praise for doing it. I used to say things like “baby sister says thank you”. My two are so close now (5&2) and although we have the odd squabble over toys they are normally hugging and kissing. If she believes the baby is hers too it changes the situation.