Tips for introducing big sibling to new baby
If you are expecting baby #2 (or 3 or 4!), Congratulations! Here are a few ideas for how you can introduce a big sibling to a new baby in the hospital. I’m Dr. Wagner, I’m a board certified pediatrician who takes care of newborns in the hospital.
Have your arms free to welcome big sibling with hugs and cuddles. Your new baby can be in the bassinet or held by another adult when older brother or sister arrives.
It can be nice, especially for kids under 5, to have a gift ready for the older child from the baby.
Plan to keep the meeting short, and try not to ask too much of the big sibling, like posing for multiple photos. There will be plenty of time for that later on!
It will be really tough (and probably very tearful) when your older child has to leave you. The departure will be much easier if you can say, “Ok, now it’s time to go to the playground with grandma,” rather than “Ok, well now you have to go home to take your nap.”
Be flexible and open to your plan changing. Birth is unpredictable.
Keep your expectations low! Your big kid will be out of their normal routine since they are not with you, and hospitals can feel scary for kids. Your child will not be at their best in that environment, that’s normal and doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong.
Again, congratulations to you!!! Even if the first meeting doesn’t go as you had hoped, there will be millions more beautiful and loving moments in your kids’ relationship that will bring you more joy than you could possibly imagine.
