If this is your second baby, you will likely be thinking about how to prepare your child for the birth of the new baby. Taking kids to sibling classes and spending time around babies will help your older child get used to the idea. Another great way to prepare small kids for a new baby is to read books on the subject. Here are a few good books about becoming a sibling.
My New Baby And Me: A First Year Record Book For Big Brothers And Big Sisters is a great choice for children who are a little older and are able to write. There are pages for your child to fill in and keep as a great memory of the new baby. This book can be used for younger kids as well, but you will need to fill in the pages for your child.
What Baby Needs by William Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears, R.N. What makes this book so special is the authors talk about the changes that a new baby brings, but they present it in a positive light. The older child is treated as a competent and important member of the family. This is also one of the few books that I have found that is breastfeeding friendly. There are no images of babies being fed bottles. Dr. Sears is best known as a pediatrician and expert in favor of attachment parenting. As such, this book talks about breastfeeding, baby wearing and co sleeping.
Welcome to the New Baby (To Give and to Keep) by Helen Exley is a small book that explains the wide range of emotions that surround the birth of a baby, from bewilderment to pure joy. This heartwarming story will be enjoyed by both you and your child.
Sophie and the New Baby
by Laurence and Catherine Anholt is a good choice, if your child is having difficulty adjusting to the idea of the new baby, or to the new baby once he arrives. Sophie has mixed feelings about her baby too. This story uses the seasons of the year to coincide with the baby’s arrival, growth and the change in Sophie’s feelings as she adjusts to her new brother and learns to have fun with him.
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