Am 25 weeks pregnant - time to tell 2 yr old DD? - .... how??

[jumpyjan]

Am due in very early May and have so far not mentioned anything to DD as I thought she is very young/won't mean much if I tell her too far ahead of the actual event etc.

However, she is starting to notice my 'belly' and am wondering if now if a good time to start talking about the baby. She loves babies and is pretty switched on so think she would now have some level of understanding/memory of what i have said if I do start to mention it but what do I say?

Obviously dont want her to feel insecure or jealous - how would/did you go about it?

There are lots of books for exactly this situation - we used "There's a house inside my mummy".

Are any of your friends heavily pg/ any exposure to little babies? Can be useful to say "we will have a little baby just like (whoever)".

Just emphasise how exciting it is that she will be a big sister.

HTH

Tell her that she is going to be a big sister and how wonderful that is. And she is absolutely old enough to know and remember why mummy's tummy is getting so big.

When my SIL was pregnant with her second she totally talked up the big sister aspect with her oldest for months so that by the time the baby came, my older niece was so excited she couldn't stand it. Now the two girls (8 and 5) adore each other.

With ds (both times) we have said do you know what is in mummys tummy? It's a baby! Mention the baby in your tummy everytime your tummy is bare or you are being clambered on lol also ask your dd where the baby is once she has clocked on. Made ds feel very special I think for him to be able to tell whoever that the baby is in mummys tummy.

And relax kids are very adaptable as long as you stay positive about it and don't make too big of a deal out of anything your dd will love it.

don't be surprised if she turns to you and says she already knew...

this is what happened to us: our ds1 was 2yo when his brother was born (so not very much younger than your dd will be) and we told him relatively early on before the scan at 20 wks that he was going to be a big brother. when we told him that there was a baby in my tummy, he said:"yes i know that mama, and his name will be t..."

we told him that we didn't know yet if it would be a little brother or sister, but he was absolutely convinced it was a boy, and what his name was going to be. ds2 is now 3 and his name is t...

we found some useful books as well, one we got was called 'i am a big brother now'.

if your dd needs to move room, to free up the nursery, make sure you do this well in advance (before the birth), otherwise she might feel that the baby is stealing everything. involve your dd in the move, let her help 'decorating the room' etc. maybe pick some new bedding, cutains or pictures for on the wall.

we also let baby bring a present for ds1.
he accepted the arrival of his brother without any trouble at all, and they are now the best of friends.

good luck!

I would sit her down on your lap and say how exciting it is - mummy has a baby in her tummy and so she'll soon have a baby brother or sister. I wouldn't make too much of a big deal of it, just be matter of fact. There are lots of lovely books you can then buy and read over the next few months to prepare her for the arrival. I think you'll probably find she knows already so I'd tell her asap if I were you (she may well have picked up on you talking to others even if you've been carful - certainly this was what a friend of mine found when she told her 26 mnth old about her pregnancy even though she was sure she hadn't mentioned it in earshot).

DD2 is 2 next month but is very much aware that I have a baby in my tummy - she will kiss or stroke my tummy and say 'baby boy' and when a friend came round with her newborn baby girl the other day she was kissing her and saying 'litlle baby girl', then put a hand on my tummy and proudly told my friend 'baby boy in mummy tummy' - so she clearly sees the connection even though she is so small.

We're in the same boat! I'm 24 weeks and DS is 2. DS is so excited about the baby and we've been talking a lot about "our baby" and how when baby comes DS will have to share mama's milk, as he still breastfeeds. We've just bought him a set of lovely new furniture and things for his room so that baby can have his old stuff. He was really excited about helping to set up the baby's new room, and wanted to take all of his friends up to see baby's new room. It is very sweet.

Thanks for the great advice.

DD will be moving room so her current (smaller) room can be used for the nursery and we are making her new room nice and special for her so hopefully she will see it as something fun and positive. We are hoping to move her in about Feb so that gives us a couple of months before baby arrives.

Good idea about the present from the baby to DD also, was wondering whether to do that.

She may well know something already as obviously people mention it to me a lot and I do talk about it in front of her as I am not sure she is really listening - is normally busy playing or something.

I think I just wasnt sure whether to say we are having a baby or there is a baby in mummys tummy approach as it seems a lot to get your head around but that seems to be what most people say. She definitely does seem to be very aware of my tummy at the mo!

definately do the pressie - my dd1 still remembers what she got and what she gave dd2. dd1 was 2.5

Thanks TT. I think my earliest memory was a packet of sweets for me in my new baby brothers cot in hospital. I was completely baffled as to why I was getting sweets but chuffed none the less - and was never jealous of him!

I think my earliest memory was choosing an orange rabbit for my little brother. I think I was 3.