Toddler with a newborn

[Reah90]

Hi, my DD is turning 2 in February and my baby is due 2 weeks before. I am finding my DD who usually is very independent and developing well for her age has went a bit backwards eg. Now wanting to use a baby sippy cup and wanting back in her high chair (she has her own wee table and chair) also never really bothered with a dummy but now will cry for it most of the day. Has anyone had any similar experience with this? Can she sense there is a baby coming and a big change going to happen?
I do constantly talk to her about her baby sister and she likes to rub my tummy and kiss it saying hiya baby.

It could well be that she is progressing a bit because she senses the baby is coming. Dd1 was 2.3 when dd2 came and definitely became more babyish in a lot of ways- trying to play with the baby toys, wanting to be fed etc. We just rode it out and went along with it. Lots of affection and reassurance and think we are over the most of it now

Celebrate grown-up actions. Point out the perks of being bigger. ("Too bad your little sister can't have ice cream, but she's a baby and babies don't eat ice cream.") Praise her when she displays maturity and applaud her big-girl achievements (like using a spoon or solving a puzzle).
Show her that she doesn't have to act like a baby to get your attention. Set aside one-on-one time with her. You might also appeal to her sense of importance. Enlist her help with the baby (she can hand you nappies or dry tiny toes after a bath).
Stick to her usual routines as much as possible. Put off other big changes like potty training or moving to a big-kid bed.
During your pregnancy, there will be things you can no longer do for her, like carry her up the stairs to bed. To stave off resentment, don't blame it on the baby. Instead, say your back aches or your feet hurt.
Buy a doll. Show her how you'll be changing and feeding your new baby, and encourage her to take care of the doll.

She's still very young, perhaps she senses change but I wouldn't push her to be too grown up, sippy cups save a lot of mess too! For eating I would get a booster seat and she sits with you at the table - like a grown up girl, she probably doesn't want to sit on her own

My two year old has attached himself to me at the hip I'm really regretting telling him what the bump meant so early as we're in hourly battles about carrying him and his sleep has regressed. Give me strength.

I had a 20 month old when my second child was born, as did a friend, my son did exactly what yours is doing - basically regressed and wanted to be a 'baby' not a big boy. He used to actually say he didn't want to be a big boy and we had high chairs etc until he was nearly three! My friends son was the opposite and hurtled through potty training, moving to the big bed etc at a rate of knots because he wanted to be a big boy.

I just went with it to be honest, my eldest was still so young and I didn't want to push him into things for no real reason other than him being the oldest, which isn't something he chose. He's 4.5 now and totally 'normal' in terms of doing age appropriate things, so I wouldn't worry - I think he just felt insecure.

My youngest son is now nearly three and I had another baby recently - he hasn't done the same stuff but was more independent in the first place.