What was your first child's response to the news of a sibling?

[MudandRoses]

Just told DS (4), to a reaction of [appalled face] "but i don't want a brother or a sister!!"

Kind of predictable, but I still feel strangely guilty about what I'm going to to do to his little world...

Dd1 was overjoyed and asked if that meant she was allowed to grow a baby in her tummy too and then my baby and her baby could be like sisters

wow, that's quite advanced! Mine thought for a while (after the initial reaction) and then asked - "But where does it come OUT??"

At which DP, who had initiated the whole conversation, promptly buried his head in a book, leaving DS to conclude- "through the bellybutton??"

When I told my daughter (then aged 3) she was over excited and couldn't wait. she had to wait 5 months and then just wanted to hold him

dd (2.6): 'Baby brother? Like [friend from nursery] has Baby Thomas?'

ah the wonders of peer pressure

I asked DS(3.11) if he wanted another baby sister.

He said "Yes OK, but we have to get rid of that one first" and points at his 2yo sister. .

DS's (2.4) response so far has been: . Then "Babies cry".

Then Granny later asks him "Is mummy having a baby?", DS replies "no".

I don't think he's grasped the concept yet!

DS (22 months), when asked if he'd like a baby to come and live in the house said 'No. Too noisy. Crying'

Goodness knows why we were asking, it's not like he gets much choice in the matter.

we showed my DD the scan picture and she asked who's having a baby? When my DH nodded towards me she started to cry!!

I asked are they sad tears or happy tears and she said, happy cos it's what I've wanted most in the world. (she's 10yrs old)

Still brings a lump to my throat when I think about it.

Your DS will get used to the idea, just gently remind him about all the positives (i.e his welcome present from the new baby

Dsd didn't have much reaction until about an hour or so later, when she announced from the back seat of the car "Ewwwwww I know what you two have been doing".

ThePhantomFlanFlinger

All we got was 'does that mean I have to share my toys?' from DS (3)

A hint from a friend was to talk always about 'our' baby rather than the baby in Mummy's tummy etc. Also to emphasize how great being a big brother is i.e. you'll be able to teach your baby brother/sister to do that.

Seems to be working, and he takes great delight in saying 'Babies can't eat icecream/sweets/climb trees/play with lego' etc etc
He hasn't asked the how does he come out question yet though... ...

Giggling at Phantomflanflinger.. elm and Scotlass - good ideas - we had been plugging the whole "you'll be a BIG brother" and you can show him/her all your toys and how to do things!" and the other plus point (though it could just as easily be a minus point!) is "it doesn't go home, like friends, it stays here, to play with you all the time, how is cool is that??"
I fear I may be building up his expectations a little too much.

Me; '[dd] guess what, mommy has a baby in her tummy!'

dd; '+ can i see it?'

me; 'no, not yet, it has to grow much bigger first and then when it's big enough it'll come out to meet you and you'll have a new baby brother or sister'

dd; ' mommy ca i grow a baby in my tummy too?'

and a few minutes later

me; 'do you know what's in mommy's tummy ds1?

ds1; 'poo?'

me; 'no, not poo.... a baby!'

ds1; [lifts my top to examine tummy 'where?'

dd was 3 and ds1 was almost 2

DS (5) was very excited, he had been asking for a couple of years. We showed him the scan picture and at first he thought it was from him, but when we explained he was jumping up and down. Immediately demanded a full explanation of how baby got there, what was happening exactly, how long this was going to take and how baby was getting out. Thank goodness for online videos (explanations were just not enough).

This excitement was nothing compared to how happy he was to find out he was getting a baby brother (probably, he knows there could be a mistake). He has plans.

Reaction? A look of horror followed by
"....but I wanted a hamster!"

"I don't think we need another baby, we have enough already Mummy" - DS (5) on being told number 4 was on the way.

To be fair, he does have a point - we weren't planning to have a fourth .

But when number 2 arrived, DS1 was only 15 months old, so I don't think he really understood.

Just emphasize the positive - all the things he can do that he can teach his baby sibling to do.

we have just recently told dd(4yo) and ds (3yo)

the response from dd was "it must be a baby girl so I can have a sister"

response from ds "can it boy cos I want a brother?"

How do we get out of that one then?

DS has said in the past, " I want a sister mum! [pause]. That is a boy, right?"