Caring for Siblings
In some ways, already having children can make having a new baby easier. After all, it's likely that you already feel comfortable holding a small baby and may already know how to change a diaper. You may also have a lot of the clothing and other baby accessories you will need, such as a crib, changing table, and infant carrier. And your baby's mother might already be a pro at breastfeeding.
Younger children, especially toddlers, generally have a harder time adjusting to a new baby arriving at home than an older sibling might. This is one reason that some parents choose to space children at least three or four years apart when planning their family.
Having other kids at home can also make things much more difficult. New dads might not be able to stay at the hospital with the new baby as much as they would like because they have to be at home to take care of the other kids. And once you bring the baby home, caring for your other children will leave both mom and dad with less time to spend with the new baby.
Another big problem with siblings is the development of jealousy toward the new baby. There are several things you can do to help prevent this kind of jealousy. These include:
Preparing siblings for the arrival of the new baby throughout the pregnancy
Making sure they are being cared for by someone they are comfortable with while you are in the hospital
Having them at the hospital or at least visiting when the baby is born
Asking other family members to pay a lot of attention to your other children after you bring your baby home
Having older siblings help you with simple tasks, such as bringing you a diaper or baby wipe
Spending “special time” alone with your other children each day, even for just a short time
You should also prepare for and accept regressions in your other children's behavior, although things like tantrums or hitting shouldn't be encouraged, even if your children are upset about the new baby. To be safe, you also shouldn't leave your new baby alone with a younger toddler or preschool-age child.
