The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

Before the Baby Arrives
There’s a lot you can do to help your older child greet the new baby
with love, not jealousy. For example:

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• Don’t talk too much about the “baby in Mommy’s tummy” until
two to three months before your due date.
• Give your tot a small doll so he can practice feeding, changing,
and good hand washing.
• Let your older child overhear you gossiping to the baby inside
you (and later, to the baby after birth) about his big sibling’s
skills and brilliance: “Psst, little baby. I can’t wait until David
teaches you how to pick up your toys. He can do it
superspeedy!”
• Teach your tot patience-stretching and magic breathing so he
can practice self-calming before the baby comes and your life
gets crazy.
• Be very thoughtful about timing the start of other big changes.
Toddlers who are moved from their cribs, made to give up their
pacifiers, or put in new schools often feel a little stressed and
vulnerable. And if it is done around the time of the new baby,
they may even feel betrayed and angry at you and the baby.
If possible, avoid big changes starting three months before your
due date and continuing until six months after the baby’s birth
(unless your toddler is a very secure little guy).
• Buy a great toy that the new baby will “give” to his big brother
and have some little toys that you can secretly hand to visitors to
your home for them to give your older child for being such a
great big brother.
Please set aside any guilty worries about your baby not receiving
the same undivided attention from you that your first baby received.
What your new baby doesn’t get from you, he’ll get five times over
from his big brother or sister.
Routines.
Special time and bedtime sweet talk are terrific ways to

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make your tot feel less jealous. (They’re only for “big kids” … no babies
allowed!) I promise that if you do special time twice a day, this daily
investment of ten to twenty minutes will eventually save you hours of
nagging and complaints. (Toddlers love getting an occasional bonus
special time for good cooperation, like going for ice cream!)