Bringing home a new baby is a tricky process. But when you already have young ones at home, the transition can be even more tough. At the very best, the new sibling will be accepted with open arms and very soon you will all be traipsing through the park like a modern day von Trapp family. At the very worst, you’ve got Cain and Abel. (Enough said.)

But there are ways to help ease your older child into the role of proud big sister or brother, and help your baby #1 from feeling like baby #2.

Announcing the News and During Your Pregnancy

It can understandably be very confusing for an only child to receive news that there will suddenly be a new baby arriving. It’s up to you how much detail you want to delve into, but here are some tips that might help your little one grasp the idea of what’s about to happen:

• Watch nature shows together. If your child digs science and animals, have “Blue Planet” help you explain to your little one that it’s natural for Moms and Dads to have multiple babies.
• As your belly begins to grow and the baby begins to kick, have your child feel your belly to let them in on the process (and hopefully get them excited with anticipation!).
• Encourage your child to interact with the new sibling and make them feel important because they are actually helping the baby grow. For instance, have your little one talk to the baby and give brotherly or sisterly “advice” on what to expect when it comes out. Or even let your child rub your belly with Tummy Butter to help the baby  grow,”feel comfy” and come out!
• Read children’s picture books that deal with the topic, like “My New Baby”, “Peter’s Chair”, “I’m a Big Brother” or “God Gave Us Two.”
• If your kid is into it, get him/her their own “baby” or “pet” that they can take care of.
• Bring your child to the store and let him/her pick out new clothes or toys for the arriving baby. In turn, buy gifts for your older child and say it’s from the baby!
• Make a “I’m a Big Brother!” or “I’m a Big Sister!” shirt for the older sibling.

When and After the New Baby Arrives

• Many parents says it’s a good idea to not be holding the new baby when your child comes to see you for the first time at the hospital. Instead, have the new baby be brought to all of you.
• If you haven’t already, get the older sibling a gift from the baby.
• When people come to visit, request that they acknowledge the older sibling first. Then ask him/her to introduce them to the new little sibling.
• Your new baby will be showered with praise from many. Help your child not feel neglected by including him/her in the compliments, too. For example, if someone says, “What a beautiful baby!”, then you can add, “Now we have two beautiful children!”
• As busy as you are, have a strict time set aside for you to spend with your older child once the baby is home. Even if it is 10 or 15 minutes each night, your child will appreciate the one-on-one attention. This is also a good time to check in on how he/she feels about the new changes.
• Make older child feel important by letting him/her help out as much or as little as they want. Be careful not to force the baby on to the other child, but make sure they know they are included if they want.
• If your child feels left out, show them pictures of when they were babies and you were holding them.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Consider investing in a baby sling or wrap, as it can help you go hands-free and let you interact with your older child. This is especially useful when you are running errands or going to the park, as you can still hold your older child’s hand.
• Let visitors hold the new baby. Take this time to hold your older child.
• Make a big deal about how helpful the older sibling is being, and let him/her know how much you love them. You can not do this enough.
• Know that even the best transitions will have some hiccups. Don’t be surprised if your eldest child acts out — this is normal. Try to be sympathetic and available to your child when he/she needs you.

Have we missed anything? What tactics did you employ with your family? What did or didn’t work? We want to know!