DS is 5 and we are due with a second in January. The hospital offers a 1 hour sibling class, which includes a hospital your, a look at the nursery and some sort of coloring and craft. Thinking of signing up. Any thoughts for or against?
My oldest was 3 when his brother was born. They did not offer a class like that. I would have signed him up for it had they offered one!!
I say go for it!!
I say go for it. It couldn't hurt and he will have the opportunity to see the preparations that took place to bring him into the world. This may make for a smoother transition in bringing a new baby home. Congrats on your new addition.
Go for it. It'll be fun for your son and make the hospital not a frightening place for him. Plus being a big brother is kind of a big deal so let him bask in the glow of that upcoming new title.
We did one and it was wonderful! It is helping me today and my #2 is 5! When we were expecting #2, my OB signed my #1 up for the sibling class. He was almost 5 when #2 was born. He took it very seriously! Some of the good things:
He learned about choking hazards (his toys and the cat's toys!) and became very conscientious about them.
He toured the hospital and so when Daddy brought him to meet the baby he was comfortable. He had been there before and it was a happy place.
He learned about ways he could help Mommy and Daddy when they were tired with the new baby and learned that new babies don't play right away. He got to see the babies in the nursery - and see that they didn't have legos in their cribs.
It has been a long time since that class, but my #1 remembers it as a special day. He spent the day with Mommy, we had lunch together and went to the class together and had one of our last days as just the two of us. He felt super included. I think it made a difference. He is an amazing big brother! Baby is now in kindergarten at the same elementary as 4th grader and 4th grader really looks out for "baby".
Congrats again!!!
Classes like these were not offered when my babies were born!!
Another vote for YES!! DO IT!
I don't think they offered those when my kids were little, and I'm not sure if I would have taken advantage or not. It doesn't seem like a bad idea...but my kids didn't spend too much time in the hospital to need to know where to go other than my room.
So if you think your child would like it - go for it!
They didn't offer this when my kids were small. If he wants to go and you can take him, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt anything. Good luck.
I lost my second child but I would have done this for my daughter. It sounds like it will help him get prepared for his new sibling and to get a little understanding of what the hospital is like.
I've been looking at the ones at our hospital - there's the whole shebang class that is quite expensive (birthing class, infant care, tour, etc), there is the sibling class for $10 which like yours is about an hour I think, and I'm totally excited to do that. We're also probably going to go with the free tour they give you at your pre-registry appointment rather than anything more involved. I think it's great. Especially as yours is 5 and may not understand everything. Mine is 9, and understands quite a bit, so for us it's more just being comfortable with where we'll be and what to expect. Have fun!
We did it. Then I went into labor that night and my daughter was back visiting her new brother the next day. I was all very fresh and familiar, to say the least!
I say definitely take him. That way, when mommy and daddy have to go to the hospital for the birth, he will feel comfortable knowing where you are. Same with work. I feel it's important to bring a child to work at least once so they can picture what "work" is when you say you have to go there. Otherwise, "work" like the "hospital" is just a black hole - they have no frame of reference.
sure! i'll bet it will be fun, and get him excited about the baby.
:) khairete
S.
Congrats on the new edition, F. B.! Re: sibling class - I attended twice with my kids while they awaited the next sibling - it is really a fabulous idea - I liked that the kids were able to preview the maternity/nursery area so that they were a bit familiar with it come the big event. I also feel like it gave them a better feel for what to expect when the new baby joins the family. They had a blast! They also had them draw a card to welcome the new baby, which was a real keepsake. I definitely would encourage you to take your son to the class.
We did one with our 2 year old. It was great! I don't remember specifics, but they had very realistic baby dolls and we did a tour. Our daughter loved it.
That sounds awesome. I would totally do it
Many blessings
