Present for toddler from newborn?

[GreatFatball]

I’m 38 weeks pregnant and have a 27 month old DD.

we’ve tried to prepare her as best we can for baby’s arrival namely getting her an “I’m going to be a big sister” book, getting all the baby furniture/clothes/nappies etc out in advance so she’s had a good chance to suss them out and be used to them being there, talking about baby a lot and exposing her to newborns (handily my best friend had her second 8 weeks ago). She’s really interested in babies and will often talk about “baby brother” and point out his cot, chair and clothes etc. This morning I found her laying muslins on top of our dock-a-tot and she told me she was making a bed for baby brother. She’ll announce she’s going to be a big sister unprompted and knows baby is in mummy’s tummy. Obviously I’m aware I can’t fully prepare her for what’s about to come and a lot of this is probably just parroting rather than properly understanding but I’m hoping these are all good signs?

is there anything I’m missing or anything anyone can suggest that they did (or maybe wish they didn’t do?) to help prepare transitioning their toddler from only child to big sibling?

lately a few people have mentioned buying DD a present “from the baby” - I hadn’t thought of this and not sure if I’m going to do it. Can anyone advise if they think this is a good idea and if so what type of thing I should buy her?

We did this and so did man of our relatives. It's very common in my home country.

I would suggest a "busy" present. Something that will keep her busy and occupied, when ypu have your hands full. My dc was much older than yours and we got a mega lego set. Cost us a small fortune was it kept dc interested for days. It was worth it for us.

I bought my toddler a baby.. baby born I think it was that cried and slept and breathed etc and I gave it to her the day I came out of hospital, it had a Moses basket next to her bed and we done all the same stuff together.. changing bums, feeding, nap times etc. it helped me because every time my baby cried I’d give hers a nudge to do the same 😂😂

Depending how old your toddler is, it won't make any sense to her to get gifts from her baby sibling. I remember my dd saying something like "but how could the baby help you choose it? He can't choose things yet" when I tentatively tried to suggest something similar.

The older sibling's whole world is changing, it's best to start from a position of openness and honesty imo. In particular, being clear about what a newborn baby can and can't do - because it's so disappointing to the older sibling when the baby arrives totally helpless and "boring". We prepared dd loads in advance for how the baby wouldn't be able to even grab a toy if she passes one to him.

Depends what they are interested in. I got 2.5 year old DD a bunch of crafty bits (stickers, pom poms, coloured paper, coloured lolly sticks, etc) from the baby. We didn't give it right away, kept it in reserve for a tricky patch - which actually didn't come and baby sister eventually gave it to big sister for her 3rd birthday.

We also got big sister to choose a soft rattle to give the baby, but again didn't give it right away, waited until baby could hold a toy so big sister wouldn't feel baby didn't like her present.

One thing your dc1 might like (mine does) is receiving matching toys/clothes as the baby. Not necessarily those naff ones that say big bear, little bear. But if you buy the baby a blue vest, buy dc1 a blue t-shirt and so on. My dd really loves this

I got a gift from the baby. I would have been about 4 so old enough to remember receiving it. It was a baby doll ( a teeny tiny tears it was called). I think it’s a marvellous way to make the sibling feel important at a time they will be getting less of your attention.

It might be hard but try not to be holding baby when your little one first sees you after you've had baby so that you can give them cuddles and immediate attention. It's going to be a big change and she's going to have to share your attention much more than she's ever had to however well prepared she is, it's going to be unsettling. Go and "meet" baby together.