If you are about to enter into a stage of life with a toddler and a new baby, these ideas can help you through the whole season of life. From preparing, transitioning and even on to thriving with your toddler and your newborn.
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How to help your toddler prepare for the newborn – Pregnancy and birth
One way to help get your toddler involved in all the excitement about the new baby from day one is to let big brother announce your pregnancy. We’ve compiled some of our absolute favorite ideas for letting the big sibling announce that a new baby is on the way, including our beloved big sibling shirts.
We created some cute t-shirts to help with the pregnancy announcement. These are fun because they allow the new big brother or big sister to color their shirt and personalize it in their own way!
Get the Big Bro Coloring Shirt Here
Get the Big Sis Coloring Shirt Here
Let the big sibling help name the baby
Another way to get the new big sibling excited and involved in your pregnancy is to let them be involved in choosing a baby name. You could let them pick from two favorites, let them have complete control over the middle name or let them pick the first letter of the name!
Gift ideas for the new sibling
One of the most sentimental gifts you can give the new big sibling is a build a bear. Purchase one a couple weeks in advance so that you can purchase the little recording to put in the bear’s paw. You can record a special message from mom & dad in the bear’s paw so that your toddler can listen to your voice while you are at the hospital.
This is especially helpful at bedtime, when the new big brother or big sister will really be missing mommy!
Sentimental gift ideas for the new big sibling
These are great gifts to have ready for when the new big brother or sister meets the new baby in the hospital. They are fun for the big sibling, but sentimental too so you can both cherish them forever!
Buy a baby doll for the new big sibling
One way to help your toddler learn what they need to know before their baby sibling is born, is to get them a baby doll to “practice” on. When I was pregnant with my second baby I realized that my son was so young he hadn’t yet learned words like “gentle” or “soft”. I bought him a baby doll and we were able to work on those new words and show him how gentle you need to be with a new baby! This little trick works wonders!
Get the cutest baby doll for big brothers here
Get the cutest baby doll for big sisters here
How to answer your toddler’s questions about pregnancy
As your pregnancy progresses your toddler will inevitably have questions about how the whole process works. Even if they aren’t asking yet, these questions often come up when you east expect them! You can see how dozens of other moms handled the “where do babies come from?” question here!
When Baby Becomes Big Sibling
This book has been a huge success ever since it was published in 2015! This book walks you through everything you need to know to thrive through the transition when you add a new baby to your family.
Get the ebook here Get the print version of the book here
What you need before the second baby is born
Even though you’ve already done this before, it can still be a challenge to figure out what you need before the second bay is born. We’ve narrowed it down to the absolute must-haves for the second baby, to help you get started! Whether you choose to have a second shower, a simple “baby sprinkle” or just go with what you already have, that list will help you figure out what you need this time around that you may not have needed the first time! (That ERGO is a lifesaver when you have baby number two, trust me!)
Free baby gear for your second baby
Babies are expensive, which is why the opportunity to get FREE things you need for baby is so beautiful and rare! I made up a list of resources you can get for free for baby, everything from a nursing pillow to a sling to baby leggings and even a car seat cover! Get your freebies for baby here.
Sentimental gift ideas for the new big sibling
One fun tradition for the big sibling, is to prepare a gift for them around the time the new baby will be born. These can be gifts you leave at home for them to enjoy while you are in labor, or something to surprise your toddler with when they come meet the new baby for the first time! See the best meaningful gift ideas for the new big sibling here.
Toddler/New Baby Interview free printable
Continue to involve your toddler in all the excitement by printing out this fun big sibling interview! You can ask them the questions on the interview, and fill in their answers. They even have space to color the cute printable. (This one makes a fun photo opp for the new big sibling too!)
Gift ideas for the new baby from the toddler
The new big sibling isn’t the only one who needs pampering! Check out these cute gift ideas for the toddler to give the new baby when she’s born. In addition to being totally adorable, this is a fun way to make the toddler feel very grown up and special, by having a gift for their sibling.
What you need to know when you bring a toddler and a new baby home from the hospital
How to help your toddler adjust when you bring the baby home from the hospital
Transitions are always challenging for kids, and this is one of the biggest they will ever go through! Here we have 8 ways to help your toddler adjust to the new baby. Even though your hands will be full trying to juggle the toddler and the newborn, these tips are simple and easy so that you can manage them even in the midst of a demanding schedule with the newborn.
When your toddler is acting out after the new baby is born
How can you tell if a toddler’s regression is normal after the new baby is born, or even figure out how to handle it? We’ve compiled the best tips on how to handle toddler tantrums after the baby is born and so much more! This has been one of our most popular posts EVER because it’s something ever family goes through after adding to their family!
How to keep your toddler busy while you feed the new baby
Whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula, it’s inevitable that the toddler will want ALL your attention as soon as you sit down to feed the baby. We found some of the BEST ways to keep your toddler busy while you feed new baby and you can start implementing these right away!
Busy bags for the new big sibling
Quiet activities for the toddler have just become your new best friend. You’ll need them when you feed the baby and most of all you will need them during nap time! See how to make the best busy bags ever to keep your toddler quiet but having fun while baby sleeps!
How to get your kids to nap at the same time
If you are able to swing this, you won’t have to worry quite as much about keeping everyone quiet during nap! Learn how to coordinate your children’s sleep schedules so that you get at least an hour a day where everyone is napping at the same time. Hopefully you’ll even be able to sneak in a nap yourself!
What to do when you “big kid” stops napping
Even the most expertly coordinated nap schedules come to an end when the toddler stops napping all together. But never fear! Your moments of quiet during the day can still happen if you use these tips to entertain your toddler during the baby’s nap.
Sentimental words for the new mom of two
Lastly, I wanted to share these two letters with you. Making this transition from one baby to two is a BIG DEAL, and I can tell, you are already doing an amazing job at it!
Read these two letters, if you feel like laughing and crying at the same time…
dear second baby sorry about the toddler
dear toddler sorry about new baby
As your family grows, we are excited to be on this journey with you! If you feel like we forgot anything in our big list of everything you need to know about having a toddler and a new baby, let me know in the comments, I’m always adding to this series!
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