Does anyone have any tips on planning my son for the new baby? All help is appreciated!
At that age there is not really any preparing to do. You just keep taking good care of him. He won't ever remember not having a sibling. My middle two boys are 15 months apart. Are you going to transition the older out of the crib? If so do it a couple months before the new baby so it's gone out of his memory. But we did 2 cribs for awhile and then moved them into toddler needs which they used til ages 3 and 5 when we got bunk beds.
A 14 month old is still very much a baby, it's not like you can really talk to him about it.
All he hears at this point is blah blah blah milk! blah blah no! blah blah blah mama!...etc.
All you can do is give him as much love and attention, and show as much patience, as possible, and hopefully your husband is fully involved as well.
Good luck, you are going o have your hands VERY full!!!
As long as he is fed, played with, changed and loved no need for preparation. They don't get it at that age.
I don't think they really "get it" at that age. But do go down to the children's library and ask the librarian for some recommended story books for young toddlers about this - whatever they don't have, they can borrow for you via interlibrary loan and you can pick up/return at your local branch. Read each one a couple of times but don't read every single night about this unless your due date is imminent.
If you haven't had someone else putting your son to bed besides you, branch out now! You want more than one caregiver completely familiar with the routine. If both parents are away during labor/delivery, then grandma or grandpa has to have your regular "drill" down pat.
And after the initial honeymoon period, many older siblings want you to give the new baby back to the hospital! It's typical and has nothing to do with whether or not you prepared well.
Sometimes there are sibling tours of the hospital - not sure how much a 14 month old will get out of that, but you can ask.
A lot of people have a few "big brother" gifts set aside so the baby doesn't get all the attention.
Other than the initial get-acquainted time, I agree with Sherry that they don't ultimately remember live without the sibling.
Good luck!
Put away infant things now so that when you bring them out for the baby your son doesn't see them as his toys. If you are going to move your son to a bed and use the crib for the baby do it how and take down and pack away the crib. That way the baby isn't taking his crib.
Make sure you decide what your son can and can not do with the baby. In my house toddlers were not allowed to touch babies. I just didn't want to have to worry about poking and touching too hard or tripping and falling on the baby since toddlers fall a lot. The toddler could fetch things for the baby and sit next to the baby but no touching.
If people will be helping out or you will be changing your son's routine start doing it now so its not a baby's fault things changed. After the baby comes make sure you still have your special routines that are done only with your son. If someone offers to help out have him/her take the baby so you can spend some special time with your son.
As far as explaining a new baby and how things will change? Young children can't understand nor will he remember any of the conversation. You can read all the books you want but really he's just a baby himself and won't get it.
My hospital had a "big brother/big sister" class. They brought a favorite stuffed toy or doll and the teacher talked about how to be a good big brother or sister. And the end, they got a big brother/sister pin.
It was cute and well done.
don't.
he's very small himself, and 'preparation' will confuse and overwhelm him.
be prepared to be patient and to teach him the rules when baby comes home. and don't overdo it even then- simple and matter-of-fact. long deep conversations and tortuous explanations will magnify in his toddler brain.
nothing to do in advance.
khairete
S.
He will do great. A little older and it would be hard.
If you are going to be in a hospital for perhaps a few days, make sure he is comfortable with whomever is going to care for him. That is really the only thing that you can do at this point. A 14 month old is still a baby himself. I would not take him out of the crib - I kept both my babies in a crib until they were over 3 years old. They are safer in a crib until they can climb out.
A baby this age won't get anything out of a big sibling class. Just keep taking care of him and making sure he gets plenty of attention even after baby gets there. When you feed the new baby, read to your older child or tell stories or interact in some way with him. Personally, I was great at playing Fisher Price while nursing!
Good luck! C.
