Apr 20 2006
Tips on How to Handle Older Child on New Born
My friend has 3 children. She told me her children all didn’t feel jealous or rejecting the younger siblings, thanks to 3 things that she did. These tips were actually passed on to her by her other friends. Here is to share with anyone interested, as well as to remind myself when time comes.
- When the older child visit mother in the hospital for the first time, it is crucial that the mother should not carry the new born. Mother should give the older child full attention and warmly welcome him/her and introduce him/her to the new born.
- Prepare a small gift from new born to the older child.
- Prepare a small gift from the older child to the new born
This way, we involve the older child in the process. Does it work? Well, it worked for my friend, and I am yet to try out.
sounds very logical to me! you should try it and tell me the results
I think it sound really cool to me..! try it and let me know.
Take care of yourself my dear..
egghead/mamabok: hehe, I already prepared item 2 and 3. Item 1 is a bit tricky, coz need hubby’s or others’ coorperation. Before they bring Ian to the room, they should let me have at least 3 to 5 min advance notice. Otherwise, I might half way breastfeeding the new born, and difficult to unlatch and put the new born down!
From my own experience, I would say its good to involve the older one as much as possible. Because there was no one to watch our girl overnight for us, she stayed in my hospital room together with hubby. We had wanted a double room so that they would be more comfortable but they ran out of doubles so we took a single and requested for a mattress on the floor. Hubby and my girl slept on the mattress and she was involved all the way so she didn’t feel left out at all and there was no jealousy. I have another friend who practised this too. Even when she had the third kid, her husband and two sons camped out in the hospital room in sleeping bags. Its fun. They made it an opportunity to turn it into a family event!
I’ll gonna try this method and see if it’s work. Now, I’m having problem having Justin’s sleep with MIL at night. I can’t bring him along to the hospital as I’ll only choose those 8-bedded room to save cost, single rooms are too expensive.
MG: wow, that is a great involvement of your older child huh! Don’t think I can do the same ler. First of all DH will NEVER want to sleep with me. He didn’t do that the last time, and I can guarantee he will not do it this time. And then, I don’t think Ian will behave in the hospital. I can imagine he’d want to squeeze on my bed and sleep with me! :p
shoppingmum: ya, ya, ya, more people try out better, then we have more testimonial whether this works or not. Hahaha! Me too, can’t let Ian sleep with me in the hospital, coz he is just too young to behave well.
Hai…a friend of mine share with me this tips too. Her kids especially the elder one took care of the little brother and sayang him very much. I think the present thingy works.
Wow, MG that’s a great family event, I like the idea.