Welcoming A New Family Member

Are you expecting a new addition to your family? It can be a fun experience. If is your first child? Maybe it is the second or third. Having two or more children can be particularly challenging. It can also be rewarding.

Having children close together can be particularly challenging. It is hard to take care of a baby when pregnant. You may have enough to do already. However, there are things that you deal with and carry on. Children do not come with an owner’s manual. You have to learn as you go.

There are advantages to having more than one child. You have already been through the process once. Start with the new sister or brother. Five or six months notice is not too much. The children have a right to know what goes on in the family. Let them know that they are still loved and needed.

Include the kids in as many family decisions as possible. For example, you may go shopping for the new car seat. Ask their opinion on the Graco Snugride infant car seat before you buy it. They need the feeling of importance, that only you can give them. They will be in competition for your attention.

Inform the kids of their new sibling as soon as you can. They have a right to know. They are as much a part of the family, as you are. It is not fair to keep important information from them.

Will the bedroom situation change with the new baby? This can be lot of adjustment for small children. They may need time to adjust to new surroundings. You want the transition to be as smooth as possible.

Two brothers or sisters may suddenly be sharing a room. Perhaps they had their own rooms, before. They may feel resentful. Let them participate in the changes. For example, let them change the color of the walls. Maybe they can help decorate the new room.

Whenever possible, find ways to include everyone in the new family situation. You do not want anything to be a surprise, like period pregnant. Things will run more smoothly, with fewer surprises.

Final thoughts

A new family member can be a wonderful time in life. It can also lead to financial and emotional stress. Try to include everyone in the family in decisions. It will make them feel important. It will also reassure them that they are loved and needed.