How To Tell Your Child That He Will Have A Baby Brother
When it’s time to have a second child, parents not only face a new pregnancy period and an absolute change in their life – they also face the potential jealousy of the firstborn. Before this jealousy appears, it is good to know how to deal with the situation right from the start. Here’s how to tell your child that he will have a baby brother.
The expectation in children
If you have already made the decision to have another child, keep in mind that young children have no conception of the future and do not know how to correctly measure the passage of days, weeks or months. For this reason, a prolonged wait can cause them to lose interest or believe that the current situation will never change.
While there is no right or wrong way to tell your child that he will have a baby brother, how you do it will depend a lot on the maturity of the child and the age. It’s not the same as telling a 2-year-old that a little brother is coming, as it is with an 8-year-old.
If the first born is over 4 years old, once the first three months of pregnancy have passed, when the risks of an abortion have already been overcome, you can announce the news. This way, he will be thrilled with the arrival of the new family member.
But if she is under 4, it is better to wait until the last trimester or when the size of the baby bump will already be evident. From the age of 8, children are already a little older and have a better understanding of things. That’s why your speech can change and you can use a “more adult” way of communicating the news to him. Surely, after learning about the news, the child will want to be involved.
A little brother is a whole new world
Once you have told your child that he will have a baby brother, let him participate in the event by showing him the ultrasound and explaining what is happening inside you.
You could also fantasize together about what is happening inside your belly and let them gently caress it to create physical contact. Take advantage of these moments of togetherness to remind him how much you love him, how happy you are with the new arrival and that the baby will have a good older brother.
The way you give this news is the key that defines his attitude, so it is good that you communicate it to him in a natural way. Think that if your child is over 4 years old, this news could even be very desired: maybe he has seen some schoolmate with a little brother and he wants it for himself.
In theory, both parents break the news together, because having a child is a family affair. A good method is to do this at a time when everyone is happy to associate the arrival of a new sibling with something positive. Therefore, the first thing to do is to approach the conversation naturally, so that the child does not notice the change.
One of the most useful tips is to tell the news with great joy. Remind him that having a baby brother is a miracle, something wonderful, something positive, since in the future both children will be able to play together and it will always be like this.
By passing this idea on to your eldest son, he will see the arrival of a new baby brother in the family as the beginning of something precious and will imagine endless fun adventures for both of you.
How to tell your child that he will have a baby brother
One of the strategies for telling your child that they will have a baby brother is to read stories of children expecting a baby brother. This will help him understand the situation and your feelings a little better.
Also, you should try to explain to him what changes will take place in family life, always from an optimistic and at the same time realistic perspective. For example, he should know that just like when he was born, his brother will need a lot of attention as babies can’t do anything on their own. If you leave out details that he may not like, when the day of birth arrives, it will be an unpleasant surprise and he will not know how to handle his emotions.
Many parents are afraid that their child will start asking prying questions. You must not be afraid if your child asks you where the children come from: on the contrary, you should not miss the opportunity to clarify his doubts.
In general, your child will show interest in knowing exactly where his brother came from and why, so it’s best not to use the stork story. In fact, speaking clearly and realistically and always telling the truth is the best way to prepare your child for life.
