Those who have children already - what are you for them when baby arrives?

[MrBlondesFries]

We've bought some toys from the baby to give to dc1, what else can we do to make it special for her?

A thinking of welco,e home baby banners and balloons so dc1 knows it s a special occasion and can play with the balloons, should we get the baby a present from dc1 or does that defeat the object?

Any other suggestions?

A friend of mine recently had her 2nd DC and her husband took her DD1 shopping a week or so before she was due so they could choose a special present to give to mummy & the baby when they went to visit in the hospital. I think she said they ended up getting baby a soft toy comforter and mummy got some chocolates.

Letting DC1 open gifts for the baby & letting them play with the new toys. And i read somewhere that wrapping little bags of Haribo or similar up for the older DC to open if someone visits with only a gift for baby they still have something for them that is a treat.

Also depending on the age of your DC1 getting them to help make the banner would help them feel involved.

All we did was make sure we had time for the first and subsequent children when a new baby came into the picture.
Most people who brought presents either brought 2 or also made a fuss of the other child/ren.
I think it is important to show how much you care and love for the dc and presents/treats aren't always necessary.
I know some people buy presents for other dc when it is a siblings b'day, but personally this wasn't the message we wanted to send.

im pregnant with my second.
going to take my son to build a bear to build baby a bear and have one 'from baby' to him too.
they can exchange them when they first meet.

We treated dd2 as a present for dd1 herself- we were not having a baby, dd1 was getting a sister. Using that terminology and asking others to do so too meant she felt the whole process was about her getting a sibling.

She was there to see the cord being cut (not before) and was v protective already 'what are you doing to my sister!!!'

At 10 and 14 I'm just involving them as much as poss this time round and giving them a say in big decisions (buggies, names etc).