When do you tell your child they are going to have a brother or sister?

[diddygirl]

My DD is 5 and has always wanted a sibling. I am currently 9 weeks and wondering when to tell her. I'm thinking about after the 20 week scan (providing everything progresses well).

When did you tell your child they were going to have a baby bro/sis?

Mine was after the 20 week scan but before I felt comfortable really, she was having a party for her 3rd birthday and we were concerned someone would blurt it out, so told her before.
This time I will try and hold it off till after 30 weeks if I can.

DD is 2.5 and I'm 25 weeks. Not told her yet but then she's a lot younger than your DD. At least 20 weeks sounds like a good time to think about it.

I told mine when I was getting fat enough for them to notice!

I didn't want to do it too far in advance because it's such a looooooong time to wait

very early because I was sooo tired and grumpy. also "trained" 2y ds to tell family.

i told my dd after the 12 week scan, we all sat down with her in the middle of me and my oh and showed her the picture of her little brother and explained that he was living in mummys tummy and that in a few months he wud be coming to live with us, she was only 2 at the time but now shes 3 and i have 8 weeks left she more or less understands, she talks to him, gives my tummy kisses and rubs and loves goin shopping for baby things xx

Same time as telling everyone else (about 12 weeks)- DS will be 2.6 when baby 2 arrives. Didn't talk it up loads and loads (it is a long time to them) but they're part of the family and a person too, so why hide it?

I told my DS 3.5 too early....ideally I wouldnt say anything til 30 weeks plus.

I couldnt not tell him though as had to tell the step children who would have told him.

I told DD (2) and DS (4) at 12 weeks, just before we told everyone else. We had a policy of either no-one knows or everyone knows. That way you don't have to worry about who tells what or who. Also, my DC's came to all my midwife appointment (although not scans) so they needed to know what was happening.

Both DC's ignored it for a while, but as my bump got bigger started asking questions. We gradually got some books for them which they wanted to read every so often. Now (37 weeks) they are really interested and want to know all about the baby. Yes it's a long time to wait but life gets in the way and they forget about it day to day unless something happens.