Being pregnant while taking care of other children is challenging. Not only must you deal with your own physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, you must also deal with the physical and emotional changes that your other children go through. Parenting pregnancy is a good time to prepare your children for their new baby brother or sister.
Parenting pregnancy begins with explaining the addition of a family member. Toddlers can have an especially difficult time. You see your new baby as a lifelong friend for your toddler, yet he or she considers the baby an intruder. The baby will be taking up the time that you formerly devoted to the child. Parenting pregnancy suggests that you get your child involved. Refer to the new visitor as “our baby.” Have them help with choosing colors and furniture for the nursery.
When parenting pregnancy, expect some regression in your child’s progress. For example, if your child is potty trained, accidents might again occur. Children who have been weaned off bottles may ask for them again.
Give some extra tender, loving care to your child when parenting pregnancy. Preparing for a newborn can be a confusing and scary time. Your comforting touch can go a long way to easing the transition when the baby comes.
While parenting pregnancy, you might find your older child acting out. Give them some encouragement to discuss his or her feelings. Reassure her that it’s okay to be angry, but it’s not okay to throw toys, for example. Always reinforce that you still love her, even after baby brother comes home.
Discuss your older child’s own babyhood with her when parenting pregnancy. Let her remember the cute things she used to do as a baby. It helps for her to understand that life progresses from babyhood to where she is today.
While parenting pregnancy, take her on a hospital tour, or tour the birthing center. In fact, many hospitals today offer programs specially geared towards new big brothers and sisters. They will tour birthing rooms so they can see where you’ll be. They might even allow a tour of the nursery so new sister can see what a real baby looks like.
Parenting pregnancy can be difficult on your child. The most important thing to remember is to reassure her that you will not love her any less just because a new baby is coming. Involve her as much as possible during parenting pregnancy. Help her to understand, and the process will go much smoother for everyone.
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