The birth of a second child will bring unconditional joy only to parents. But for an older child, a new way of life and his role in it can be completely disappointing. Therefore, it is so important to prepare the older child for the birth of the younger one in advance.
The moral preparation of an older child for the appearance of a younger child depends on his age. The younger the child, the less emphasis should be placed on the fact that he will soon become an older brother or sister. The child does not yet have a sense of time, and it is not necessary to inform him about the addition to the family too early. Otherwise, every day you will be haunted by the question "When?" It is better to say that a baby will soon appear in the family, already on the eve of a joyful event. And when asked why my mother has such a big belly, it is honest to answer that the baby lives there. Usually, after a couple of leading questions, the child will calm down.
There is no need to make secrets with older children (from 7 years old), but clearly tell that soon (it is better to specify when) a little man will appear. At the same time, it is not necessary to emphasize that the child will immediately become an elder and an adult. Indeed, this will not happen. Do not divide children into younger and older ones.
If possible, take your child to the meeting with the baby from the hospital. He will certainly want to take part in the festive preparations for this event. Hang balloons around the house, draw a greeting card. Some parents give older children a gift on behalf of the younger. But love should not manifest itself in a material equivalent. There is no need to instill a spirit of rivalry between children in the first minutes.
Some parents make the mistake of keeping their baby away from the newborn. Let your baby watch and play naturally under your control. So attachments will begin to form, and the more you drive the older one away from the baby, the more resentment will appear.
Should the older child help you with the younger? Only at will. Don't make him a nanny. And, of course, consider the age of the child. A 13-15 year old may well play with a toddler while you cook dinner. At 10 years old, you can ask to take water into the bath and measure the temperature. But what can you ask for a 5-year-old?
In the early days at home, pay more attention to the older child. Now he needs to feel stability, that for mom and dad he is still the best and he does not need to share love and attention. Even if right now you cannot pay attention to the elder, because you are feeding the baby, cover yourself with a diaper, talk to the child, play, sit in an embrace.
