Baby on Way Need Advice for Kids

Updated on January 08, 2007
J.M. asks from Hudson, WI
12 answers

my kids are 6 and 4 and i will be having a baby in about 3 weeks. I have been trying to teach them that they cant be screaming and yelling when baby is born. They both have mental problems and have a hard time controlling their voices. Any suggestions as to what i can do to help them before baby comes?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from St. Cloud on

I think that the baby would be used to it, since that will be her/his normal enviroment.
Do you children have rest time? I usually have a quiet/rest time, same day everyday and we always go over the rules that it is time to lay down, no playing or talking while the movie is on, most of the little ones fall asleep. It takes awhile to get them to get on a routine.
If they are older children I would try to just let them play in thier rooms or be in a area away from the sleeping baby. All you can do is keep reminding them that the baby is sleeping, let's try to be quiet.
Kids will be kids, lol.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

When I want my 5 year old to be calm or quiet I simply just whisper to her and somehow without even thinking she automatically whispers back. I model quiet behavior and she follows.

The atmosphere sets the mood, if your at a rock concert your adrenaline is gonna be going and you want to scream, if your at a library your most likely quiet and more relaxed.

Try having classical music playing or soft sounds that calm the WHOLE house down just a bit.

I'm a very very quiet person (I love to talk) but I can't stand doors slamming, music blarring, stomping up stairs etc. I make quite a good neigbor. I have from day one taught my child to be respectful and quiet herself. She has tons of times where she can dance and be crazy and sing songs and stuff but she isn't allowed to be obnoxious or disturbing just for the heck of it. I have to remind her occasionally but I've been consistant with this so this is just the way she has adapted.

I've also noticed whenever we have company over doesn't matter who my child gets very hyper and bounces off the walls which is ok but not when her bedtime is approaching so I am strict when people can stop by etc. It takes forever to calm her down and get her in the mindset to go to bed.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

Start teaching inside and outside voices. Easy simple and explainable to most kids. I also think that they will be calmer and quiter when the baby comes because newborns are tiny and get that reaction. I also would start talking to them about how they will be as big siblings to this new little ones. Have them draw pictures, tell stories, etc. Have them make welcome cards for the baby is a great way to prepare. Good luck with this exciting time for you and your family!
Happy birthing...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

You can encourage them to learn to whisper and put away every noisy toy in the house - but it'll only help somewhat. I had 5 kids before my newborn twins. The only way to help things is for your baby to get used to the noise. And babies do, because these are the things that they've heard all along. My now-5 yr old would sleep thru anything, and still does. My kids will play quiet games or go outside if the twins (or me) are crabby. For the usual kid noises - they do just fine. It's the "mommy...he took my toy/cd/looked at me funny" stuff that my kids have to work on because it's that kind of yelling that wakes up the babies.
Actually, Ihad everything quiet when my firstborn came into this world. Now that I think about it, he still is a light sleeper!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

One thing to remember is that your unborn baby is used to the noise of your other two. It will be a learning time for you all, but baby's do just fine with noise.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

my advise is to just let then be loud (as normal). Babies are so used to loud noises they can sleep through anything (and will continue to be this way as they get older if that's the way it is) Also, the baby will become a resentment to your older kids if you are constantly shhing them or blaming baby for then not getting to have fun.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

Congrates!!! I hope everything goes well for you. I think that they don't need to be very quiet. Your baby already hears all that inside of you........This will be normal noise to your baby. I have a 4, 2, and 6mo. old. When my youngest came along he actually slept better when the older ones were being loud. I think that you don't need to worrie so much about it. Good luck to you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.T.

answers from Duluth on

Hi, J.. Congratulations! I, too, have a six-year-old and am expecting another child in three weeks. My son seems to be adjusting well to having a new sibling. We've spent a lot of time talking about the changes that will be necessary. We don't sit down and "talk", I just add comments into our regular communication and activities. So, if he's being loud or overly active, I ask him how he thinks babies will act or if they would like yelling in the house, remind him that the baby will sleep a lot. There are also a lot of great books on becoming an older sibling. It's great to take some special time now to read with him and know that the book is relevent. And finally, I would recommend getting a small doll for each of your kids. They can pretend to have their own baby and it may make it easier for them to understand how an infant should be taken care of. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Green Bay on

Hello. We have three boys and just had a new baby. Our policy has always been that we don't have a "shhhhh the baby's sleeping" house. They are expected to use their indoor voices and be respectfull but they play just like they always have. We figure that having a new baby in the house is hard enough they should not have to be crabbed at to be quiet. It really works though. I able to run my vaccuum while she is sleeping (I have been able to do that with all of them) Even around where she is sleeping. To be honest with you she sleeps better when it is noisy. When it gets too quiet she starts to stir.
Take care.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Babys do adjust really well to sound, like some of the other mom's have already stated. You mentioned your children have mental problems, as a mom myself of 2 autistic boys I know how hard it is to explain to them they have to be quiet, next to impossible. I started taking care of my nephew when he was a baby and he adjusted to the sound just fine. Just be patient with your oldest 2 as hard as it may seem at times. A close friend just had her second one and she said it took a month for him to get back to his normal self and he's a typical child with no problems. Congratulations and best of luck with the new baby!

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

What I learned.....babies don't really hear much of the loud noise at first, they sleep right through it, and if its every day, then they get used to it and still sleep right through it.

My 4 year old was 3 when his baby brother was born. He's a pretty calm child but has a really loud voice, and you know how 3 year olds walk....they run...LOUDLY! I was concerned that he would always be waking the baby up so we did alot of indoor voice and outdoor voice and talking about being quiet when baby was sleeping, etc.

Well after our youngest was born, I quickly realized that the baby adjusted and slept through anything, and he still does. My 4 1/2 year old is better at being quiet during naptime now, but its really not imperative that he's quiet as a mouse, ya know.

Good luck on your new baby!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.J.

answers from Sheboygan on

My daughter was only 18 months when my son was born. But, what seemed to help was to show her that if she woke up the baby, she would have less alone time with me. When the baby was sleeping, we would do special things, like finger painting or going outside with the monitor. I have even given her small rewards if she was quiet while I was nursing/ rocking baby to sleep.
My oldest sleeps more soundly than the youngest, so don't figure. We were not noisy when my oldest was in the womb or when she was a baby, and there was definitely more noise when my youngest was little. He still wakes very easily.
But, I also see some of the babies in daycare sleeping very soundly with tons of noise going on around them. ;]
Each baby and parents are different. There's no right or wrong. But, I used to get so ticked when someone [adult] would come in and slam the door when my babies were sleeping, even if it didn't wake them up. Seems so inconsiderate. If an adult can't even be quiet with a sleeping baby, we can't expect children to get it right away.
Congratulations in advance!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches