L.R.
The ideas I've seen here are fine but they really aren't necessary. The assumption is that a new baby will be a problem. Not so. You don't know how a kid will react, but being a mommy's girl now and not caring for babies has nothing to do with how she will feel when there's a new baby. In general I've found that all kids are interested and intrigued by babies, then they're bored with them because all they do is eat and sleep at first. You don't really have to get all talky about it, either, unless the child just wants to talk - just tell them they're going to have a new brother or sister, and don't tell them too early, either, or they won't believe it, because it seems to be a long time in coming (to them). Then when the baby is born it's important to make them feel like they are still important and special, not second-class. I took photos of every one of my kids sitting holding the new baby. After that, they could hold the baby or not, according to their level of interest. One thing I've heard people say is that it's a mistake to refuse to pick up the older child or tell them they are "too big" for whatever, because then they may blame the baby and feel bad for growing up! Some babyish behavior is to be expected from the 3-year-old; just roll with it and it will go away.