Is there any way to even slightly prepare a 20-month-old for new baby brother?

[ohbabybaby]

I have always assumed no, but now (with 2 months to go, so DS1 currently 18 months) I am feeling a bit bad about the shock he is going to get!

Grandma got him a baby doll and toy pushchair for christmas, and he is reasonably gentle with the doll and likes playing with it and taking its clothes on and off.

I got him a lovely book the other day ('My New Baby'), but although he loves books he couldn't care less about this one (I expect he will like it some more when the baby is here though).

He's been showing some interest in my tummy recently (more my rather unattractive tummy button I think.... ), so we have said there is a baby in there, but that isn't going to make much sense to him.

His understanding and language are about average for an 18 month old boy by the way.

Any ideas? Or should I just give up! Thanks.

I'm in the same situation but two months along from you.

As well as the very sensible things you have already done I also get books out of the library about baby animals and I make a reall fuss of any baby we bump into.

I've also showed him you tube clips of newborn babies crying/ sleeping etc and encouraged him to say "aww baby, gentle"

Good luck!

I had DS when DD was 20 months. We had 'my new baby' and 'there's a house inside my mummy' which is good too. We got her involved with helping with the baby and made sure we made special times just for her which 'the baby is too little so he can stay home for an hour with dad' etc.

If any of your friends have small babies then try to have a cuddle so DS gets used to seeing you holding someone else.

DD will be 18 months when DS arrives, and I've been wondering this. So far, I've been teaching her to stroke my bump gently like she strokes the cat. She has started saying 'baby' and kissing my tummy, and though I think she's just copying DH without really understanding who'd inside the bump, I'm guessing she is picking up on something...

DS was 22 months old when DD was born. We talked about the baby, and what would happen when it arrived- though only when he seemed interested, as I didn't want him to get fed up with baby talk. We read 'There's A House Inside My Mummy' about 3 times a week for the last 3 months or so (I think I could recite it from memory now!), and pointed out babies whenever we saw one at the park/at toddler group/in shops.

I talked to him lots about how, when it was time for the baby to come that I'd have to go to the hospital, and Nanna would stay and look after him. We also took him to the hospital a couple of times (I was being monitored due to concerns about baby's growth), so he knew where I would be. (That may hae been a little OTT, and I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't needed to go to hospital anyway)

I actually got quite worried at one point, as he showed no interest in babies at all, and I started to feel guilty that I was going to turn his little world upside down, and he'd never forgive me.

DD is not quite 6 weeks now, and DS is 2 today, and he's the most loving, attentive big brother a baby could ask for! We try to involve him in nappy changes/getting DD dressed, and tell him how much his little sister likes him (She really does seem to stop crying when she sees him). He's always trying to cuddle her, and share his toys, and to be honest I think I've had more trouble adapting to her arrival than he has.

Good luck!

My DS is 20 months old and DC2 is due in less than 3 weeks.
We've been telling him for ages to be gentle with mummy's tummy because there is a baby in there, and he would hug and kiss it, but obviously not really understand.
My friend had a baby at the beginning of febuary, though, and we showed her to him and said baby. He said "baby" and pointed at my belly, then he said it again and pointed at her. You could see it working in his little head, and since then, he seems to be understanding a little bit more.
We also have a book called There is a house inside my mummy (which is rather hilarious) that he likes, and he points out all the different things in the book (toy cars, ducks, food, mummy, daddy) and he does point at the belly of the mummy and now says baby.
Of course I don't believe for one second that he understands the implications, but I've found that after the whole "be gentle" thing, he is quite amazing around little babies and constantly wants to kiss them and stroke their heads really gently.
He is generally a gentle boy anyway, though, so I don't know if that makes a difference............