When to tell preschooler about pregnancy?

[Ouchjuststoodonlego]

Just wondering how far along you were when you told your older children and what age they were.
How did they react?

Part of me wants to leave it as long as possible but the other part thinks that dc need some time to get used to the idea.
Thank you

I’d say it depends on the age. My almost 2 year old is pretty clueless she is about to have her world blown apart 😂

I suppose it depends on their age, when i had my second child my first was nearly 2 so he didn't really understand he was getting sibling, but this time my kids are 5 and 7 and my 5 year old is obsessed with my tummy cuddles me all the time and gets so emotional telling me he wants baby now, so this is a long time for him to wait for his sibling, another 18 weeks to go and he asks everyday when's baby coming. Personally i would wait as long as poss if your first is around 3 as they dont have the capacity to understand time so 9months is a very long time to wait x

We told our older 2 (ages 3 and 4) straight after the 20 week scan. The remaining time to wait to meet their new sibling was still a really long time to them but they could at least see the changes to my body from then, the scan photos were clear at 20 weeks, and we could tell them what sex the baby was, which meant our eldest didn't have the chance to build up her hopes for a sister!

Mine were 4 & 3 and I held out until about 18 weeks. I would have waited until 20 but I had a (private) gender scan booked and I wanted to take them. They have been really excited about the baby coming so I wanted to make it as short as possible for them.

I would wait until after the 20wk scan myself, after mine showed up a couple heart defects I have had to try and break bad news to my niece who was super excited to finally have a cousin, that he won't be a very well bubba. Would have been easier if I had waited till after 20wks.

I disagree that they won’t know, or won’t that 9 months will seem like a long wait. Not necessarily. I’d say it depends on the child and their age. We told my dd after the 12 week scan (she was 2.5, will be just over 3 when baby arrives end of next month).

She would have heard us telling everyone else in the family and wondered why we’d not told her. She had watched me throwing up multiple times a day for that 12 weeks and was actually getting a bit worried about mummy I think, so she was almost relieved to find out why everything seemed different. We bought her a book about becoming a big sister, showed her the scan picture etc. It took her a while to get used to the idea but now she chats about her future little brother all the time, is not anxious or stressed about it, is not impatient for him to arrive, just excited. I’ve kept her informed the whole way, we’ve told her how big baby is at each stage, how he’s got lots more growing to do but he’s doing well etc.

Go with your instinct OP, but honestly I’d give preschoolers a little credit for being able to understand (unless they’re very very young of course).

Thank you. That's interesting.
Dd is 3 and very switched on but I still feel like it's a very long time for her.
DH doesn't agree and thinks that we should tell her after the 20wk scan. He would have told her at 12 weeks given the chance.

She does pass comment about my 'squishy tummy' thanks kid but as I already had a bit of squish from a emcs with her, it's not too noticable yet.

We told DD (3yo although 2 at the time) when we told the rest of the family at 12 weeks. We felt it affected her the most so wanted to tell her first. I wouldn't do that until you are prepared for everyone to know though as she outed the news to a few people before we could.

She also chats about when her baby sister is born and it has been useful to explain why I need to rest a bit when I've been feeling rough and why she can't jump a over me anymore. I feel.ita been the right thing for us.

I was waiting until after the 20 week scan, we had to go back for another scan due to uncooperative baby when DD1 aged 3 asked me if I had a baby in tummy. I had a large bump and one of her nursery key workers was pregnant.