Welcoming a new baby into the world is a joyful thing. But it can be confusing to children who are all of a sudden thrust into the role of big brother or big sister. Once every month, longtime childbirth educator Penny Simkin teaches a class, offered through Parent Trust for Washington’s Great Starts program, to help prepare soon-to-be siblings for the great, big change that’s about to happen in their lives. Here’s a list of tips Simkin gives all the kids who take the class:
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR NEW SIBLING
When your baby sister or brother is very young (up to 2 months) try these things:
• Hold him. • Sing to her and talk to her. • Make faces with him, when he is wide awake and not crying. • Open your mouth and close it slowly five or six times. He may copy you! • Stick out your tongue and put it back slowly five or six times. She may copy you! • Show her toys and some of your favorite things.
When the baby gets a little older, you can:
• Read her a baby book. • Take him for walks in his stroller (with your mom). • Play peek-a-boo. • Sing songs with action (This Old Man, Patty-Cake, etc.). • Stack blocks for him to knock down.
How to help your mother with baby care:
• Help change diapers. • Get things (something to drink, a blanket, the diaper bag, or something else). • Help pack the diaper bag.
When you are in the car, sit beside the baby and …
• Give her toys to shake. • Shake rattles for him. • Wind up music toys. • Sing to the baby.
Can you think of other things to do with your baby?
Penny Simkin is a childbirth educator, doula, birth counselor and author of several best-selling books, including The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions.
