Using Fantasy to Help Your Older Child(ren) Adjust to a New Baby Sibling

Kindle edition will be free on August 22, 2015.

Sibling Rivalry usually starts right after, (or even before) the arrival of the second child. The older child often becomes aggressive, “acts out” or even regresses.  Regression means acting more like a baby—for example, by wanting a bottle, or peeing in their pants.  It’s important to prepare your older child when you know you are expecting a new baby.  Kids need to know what to expect, and they need time to adjust.  After your baby arrives, there are many things you can do to make the adjustment easier.  

Having a new baby in the family may be one of the tougher things your older child has to deal with. However, it may eventually be one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Reading books with your child will help them prepare for and understand what is happening in your family.  Books about feelings will help your child know that all their mixed-up feelings are normal and okay.  Books can spark conversations between you and your child about their worries, questions, and feelings about the new baby.   Not an Egg! is a book that you can read to your young child during the pregnancy to prompt conversations to help your child work through these very normal emotions. It is woven into the premise of a bedtime story book and after all, there is nothing better than a friendly dragon.  For those with kindles, tablets and smartphones, you can get this short little tale for free on Amazon at the above link on August 22, 2015.

Follow Seafaria, a young fledglings, as she learns of a new egg, the changes that an egg brings, and then the joys and wonder of a little brother. 

For more information on how to help prepare you child for this large transition you can visit the following Website:  http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/newbaby.htm 

This website has great ideas on helping your child with this transition.