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Meet Your Sibling

Preparing Your Child for the New Baby

By Jessica Williams

Toddlers go through big changes during their second and third year of life. At some point, weaning probably becomes an issue, and moving from a high chair to the table is common. These changes are easiest when done gradually, and apart from each other. So, it only makes sense to try to also separate them from the big change of becoming a sibling. Dr. McCoy suggests making these changes several months ahead of the birth. Because some changes should be made according to your child's readiness, like weaning from the breast, certain issues may arise. This is a good time to evaluate what changes your toddler seems ready for.

Probably the most common change a toddler makes before a new baby arrives is the transition from crib to toddler bed. Dr. McCoy says this is an important change, especially if the new baby will be using the crib. She suggests making the change early enough to take the crib down for a while, only setting it up again right before baby is born. "It is unfair to the young toddler to ask him to accept the changes of having a new baby, give up the crib, and allow the new baby to sleep in the crib," she says.

You may not need to prepare much for the newborn if you already have all of the furniture and other items you gathered when your toddler was born. But, you should still involve your toddler in many of the preparations. For example, if you are unpacking baby clothing from storage, you could let your toddler help you sort and wash them.