Any tips to prepare DS for a second sibling?

[Sweetestp]

I am currently expecting and due in May.
My two year old DS and I cosleep most of the time, i work only around 2 days a week, so he really has my constant attention.. we both love touch and cuddles and share a lot of them! Knowing I wont be able to give him even half of the time and attention i currently do is making me anxious about whether he will accept his new brother and how on earth i will be able to maintain closeness with him.. their gap will be 2,5 years..

any tips on anything in particular to help prepare him a bit so he doesnt become resentful of number 2? Story books possibly or a certain approach ?

TIA

You will get lots of advice on here about how to give your DS special time and involve him in the baby. The best advice I received was actually from a radio programme many years ago when I was struggling with a new baby and a jealous 3 year old. Basically, the doctor said, imagine that your husband brought another woman home and said ‘I love you both and we are all going to live together’. That is how DS will feel. So remember that jealousy is natural, within reason he should be allowed to exhibit it otherwise his development will be stunted. Finally, it will pass and they will be best of friends.

Pirate Pete - I'm a new big brother

Read this book lots! We made it all about him "your baby" "your brother" etc. He got to tell both sets of grandparents there was a baby coming. He was offered a chance to hold baby as soon as we got home (refused initially, but no pressure was added). He gets involved with the baby - getting out the changing mat, holding the wipe while I undress baby, helping with pretty much anything a 3yo can do. Now we definitely got lucky with his temperament (and a baby that will be set down occasionally), but two months in and there's been absolitely no jealousy so far.

My 2 DCs are just under 2 years apart. I bought several story books for DC1 about how important it is to be an older sibling. I read these to DC1 regularly at bedtime. Whether this did the trick or we were just lucky I don't know but the DCs have been good friends since DC2 was born.

My advice is to really try not to be too worried about him hurting the baby, it's really good if they feel ok to interact with them, stroke their head, a little cuddle etc. Yes it's really alarming when they are a tiny baby but it gets less scary when they get bigger.

You've had some great advice already. Your local library should have some story books on a new baby arriving.

The best advice I can give you is to get him into his own room now before the third trimester hits as they can start behaving a bit oddly before the LO arrives

Forgot to say don't ever dissuade contact with baby - especially if he initiates it! If he is being too rough, guide him to be more gentle but don't tell him to get away from the baby. You want to nurture their relationship with each other from the start.