How do you make your DC1 feel as special as your newborn? Share with Fairy Non Bio for chance to win £300 voucher NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Fairy Non Bio is sponsoring the Mumsnet Talk App, and in light of this, they’d like you to talk about your experience of making your DC1 feel special after you bring your newborn home.

Bringing a new baby into the world is always special but, when it’s your second bundle-of-joy, it’s possible that your DC1 will feel left out. Fairy Non Bio would like to hear about the ways that you’ve ensured your child continues to feel special following the arrival of their little brother or sister. Maybe you set aside a weekly block of one-on-one time with them? Perhaps you let them have some responsibility when looking after the baby, so they can feel like they’re involved? If there’s anything you do to make sure your DC1 knows they’re just as special to you as your newborn, share with Fairy Non Bio below.

If you avidly check out Mumsnet's talk boards, you should download the app for yourself. It's free, and allows you to be part of the conversation wherever you are!

All who post on the thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Include them with everything from the pregnancy, and following delivery getting them to be your little helper! Presents always helped, everyone bought them both one so my oldest daughter didn't feel left out!

I made a big deal of them being the big sister and when the baby was asleep I would spend some quality time with DD1. She was a bit miffed, but I turned it around and said she was helping mummy and being a big girl. Luckily in the beginning you get a lot of time when they are sleeping to do things together without the "boring baby"

We had a shortlist of 2 names and let DD1 choose DD2's name. DD2 also bought a present for her big sister and DD1 opened the front door and welcomed all visitors onice we got home so she could introduce them to her sister.

We have 3 DCs and did not really give this much thought to be honest. Just ensuring you spend time with them all and including them in the care of the new baby, and trying to keep your normal routine seemed to work just fine.

Firstly I'm a mum of 5 so have been through the jealous stage a few times ! I always made sure that the new baby bought the older child a present to say "Thankyou for being my big sister/brother" then when at home if visitors came they were told they couldn't pick the baby up until they had gave the older ones attention for 20 odd mins so they didn't think the visitor had come to see the baby only. With me I always made sure that I expressed that changing the baby etc was a chore that I had to do even though I'd rather be playing with the older child so they didn't think the baby was getting more love than them and that the baby is special but not the best thing ever. Its about not suddenly cutting the time you spend with the older child in half to accommodate the new baby, let the older child see that you still and always will have time for them.

DC1 was only 17 months old when DC2 came along, and to be honest he wasn't really bothered. He would cuddle me while I bf'd his baby brother. When DC3 arrived my other two boys were just really excited and I got them involved. They were my little helpers.

Our DC1 was 18mth when DC2 was born, and wasn't jealous at all - I think he was too young. However, we did do things like take him to Build a Bear to help make a bear as a present for DC2. We also had an au pair who gave him lots of attention. I think it would have been more of an issue if he was older.

gifts from the new addition helped as well as giving older siblings important jobs in helping to look after baby like changing nappies or choosing clothes for them

I worried about this as lot when I had my second (a girl) as I had such a close relationship with my son before. I let him choose a present to bring in to baby (a cuddly WtP) and baby bought him a pack of cars that we placed in her crib when he was first due in to visit - he thought this was amazing that she knew he loved cars and had got them ready & waiting for him...). My friends were great and made the biggest fuss of him when they came into the house - rather than going straight to baby. I just tried to make him feel grown up and that I needed him and couldn't manage without his help. Many years on now and I still try and snatch a bit of time with him on his own when we can. Whilst family time is vitally important so is them knowing they are individuals and are loved and valued as such.

Currently pregnant with my second child, my son will be almost 4 when his sister is born, we are already planning trips and gathering ideas to make sure he doesn't feel push out in anyway.

I made sure bedtime stories with my eldest were a priority when number two arrived, so we always had that bit of time for just the two of us (and if the baby was screaming then Daddy could deal with him!)

Making sure you still give them plenty of attention, especially one on one. Get them involved in helping you out and rewarding their helpfulness.

I got my eldest a special "big sister" necklace.

To be honest though she was so enthralled with her new sister that it doesn't seem to have occurred to her that she isn't getting as much time and attention as before.

I always made sure that I spent plenty of time with her at bedtime, just us two - reading stories, watching her favourite programme and then lots of hugs and cuddles

We try to get our eldest involved in the care of the little one. Plus we make sure she has one on one time for a bit every day.

There is 5 years between my son and daughter, and he took it so well. We make sure that he always feels included as much as we can. When DD was born, we brought DS to visit her and she had a gift for him, and he had one for her that we'd taken him to choose before she was born. He absolutely adores her which I think helps!

I was acutely aware of this. We always allowed our eldest to be very independent. We weren't 'helicopter' parents, and allowed her to make mistakes, or if she asked us to go we would explain 'I must just finish this, but will be with you in..'

When our second child arrived, our elder daughter wasn't jealous at all. She loved her baby sister. And they love spending time together. The first person they want to see in the morning is each other. Our younger daughter's first word was her older sibling's name.

Having said that, we do stories with the older child every night on her own, and we take it in turns. She has certain toys and privileges which are hers, as the older child, and our younger daughter has different things.
We make sure we do as much 'No, I'm sorry, you can't have that because that is..' with our younger daughter: our boundaries are not only strict with our elder child.
We appreciate our elder child, and praise her for being her, for doing her individual things, but also for the way she is with her sister. And we allow her to acknowledge when being an elder sibling is tough!
We give her time. And we're a unit.

Make sure that any visitors coming to see the new baby know that they will be expected to spend as much time with DC1 as with the new baby.

Newborn DD2 bought her sister a new bike, which went down well. Also involving DD1 in day to day care and 'helping' me.

my son was just 21 months old when his younger brother was born so really he was just a baby himself. Despite feeling utterly exhausted all the time, I used to spend new baby's nap time with my son doing 'special time' - usually a puzzle or game. The health visitor gave me a super tip though - she suggested role play games where I could lie down as much as possible - so things like setting up shops and then I could just sit and rest whilst my son rushed around.

I pretty much ignored the newborn in the day. Fed her when she wanted but otherwise all my attention still went to her sister. (At night time we had lots of one on one time and she was mainly asleep in the day anyway).

Other people around us did the same. Luckily it worked and she absolutely loves her baby sister. Although I think that might be just luck!

My mum and dad bought a puppy when my brother was born. I'm not sure of the logic but my brother and I are very close in our 40s so who knows.

I did lots to help my firstborn feel secure. I cuddled her lots and lots, I called the new baby 'your baby' to her and let her help bathing, feeding and changing the baby. The new baby bought her big sister a big toy to say thank you for looking after me. We also bought a book about becoming a big sister and read it lots. Daddy did lots of the care for the new baby so our older daughter could spend time with me on her own. They are 1 and 3 and get on well now. Phew :)

make sure you still have 1 to 1 time with first child

We reserved reading for hour before bedtime that is just our first son's private hour - he loved it!