Experiences on introducting No.2

[shereejoy]

Well I just wanted to know if those of you who have a 2nd and are carrying no.3 or even if you have more children and remember the transition of bringing home no.2, what was it like? Any advice or information on what you found worked for you?

[Wy & Deeky]

Will be watching this one closely! Im in the same boat Sheree :)

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

When I was pregnant with Hayden, we moved Ryan into his room early on- 4 months before Hayden arrived. I read books about new babies, spoke to him about babies, and made sure i had friends around who had new babies etc.

When it came time to have Hayden, i made sure that i knew when Ryan was coming in to see me in the hospital, and made sure that i wasn't holding Hayden, or if i was, that i put him straight down and gave Ryan lots of attention first.
Then when he asked, we showed him Hayden and allowed him to have his first hold of his little brother. He was full of questions and curiosity, and we told him all he wanted to know. We let him lead the discussions about his little brother etc.

When it came to being at home, i made sure that baby routines included him... IF he wanted them too. He sometimes helped me bath Hayden, sometimes he didn't. When i was breastfeeding Hayden, i made it into a special time with Ryan too. I would blow bubbles for him (one of his favourite things to do) and he would jump around on the floor catching them. And he thought it was his special time, not just Hayden's.

It worked out really well for us. Ryan was 22.5 months old when Hayden arrived, and he was fantastic about it. At times he got a little rough, but we just needed to explain (FIRMLY) that that behaviour was not on.

Oh, we also had a special photo album of Ryan's baby photos that we gave to him to look at before Hayden was born. We spoke about him growing up, and learning to do new things etc, and how he could help us when he wanted to to teach the new baby things. He really loved that, and we printed out photos of Hayden as he grew and added it to the book, so that he could see that Hayden was learning just like he did etc. Hmmm reminds me better start doing that up again!

Will be interesting for me this time as Hayden is a way more clingy child than Ryan was!


ETA: At the hospital, we also made sure we took a present with us that would be for Ryan from the new baby... so their first meeting would be a positive one in Ryan's eyes! (ooo baby gives me stuff! LOL) and he loved what he got. Also gave him something new to play with at the hospital, so he wasn't jumping around all crazy and annoying everyone.

[sarahsboys]

We did a lot of similar things to Jane, We too had a 22 month gap. But I think whatever you do a lot of it depends on the child. I knew Oscar would be ok with the baby as he wasnt a clingy child and was happy to go with anyone. so once we brought Hugo home, there were a lot of people to take him to the park etc. I was more worried that Oscar was missing out, because b4 Hugo came along we would go out a lot and then it gets a lot harder once the bub comes home, also having a c section limits you. My worst memory is the day I came home from hospital and it just happened that Hugo was due for a feed at the same time that Oscar woke up from his day sleep. Oscar just took one look at me feeding Hugo and ran into the corner and started crying, which made me cry which made Hugo cry. Just a bit emotional. But that was the only time he reacted like that thank goodness, and has just loved his brother to bits ever since.

[M~T~J~M]

:wave:

When pregnant with DS2, I always made sure I included DS1 in things to do with the baby. He was also 22 months when DS2 was born...
I included him in setting up the babies room, he helped us set up his new big boy room.
We read him a special story called "There's a house inside my Mummy" (or something like that....that reminds me, must bring that book out to read to DS3!!). It's such a cute story, and DS1 really loved it. I think it helped him to understand what was going on a lot better too.
When he came into the hospital, I made sure most of my time was spent with him. When I needed to attend to DS2, I included DS1. I also made sure I had a gift to give DS1 from DS2, so that he wasn't 'being left out'.

When we got DS2 home, I can't honestly remember having any trouble with DS1 adjusting. Now, when I bought DS3 home - That's a whole different story, lol!!

[abibelsmum]

Lots of people gave DD1 presents at the hospital after DD2 was born, so she thought it was great. We made sure that she and DH came to the hospital together to collect us, rather than having her babysat and coming home to find the new baby there. At each stage DD2 reaches, we show DD1 pictures of herself at the same age.

[Jaileth]

will be watching this thread as well - have to say I'm very nervous about how they'll get along.

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

:wave:

We read him a special story called "There's a house inside my Mummy" (or something like that....that reminds me, must bring that book out to read to DS3!!).

We have that book too, and it is so gorgeous. Yep... i had better pull it out too and read it to the boys.


I also agree totally with sarah that it really does depend on the individual child's nature!