Sibling Jealousy: 3 Ways to Help Older Siblings Connect with the New Baby

Peace at Home November 30, 2017 | Ruth Freeman

Your older child was so excited about the new baby. But, now that your baby has arrived, he is uncooperative and sometimes acts like a baby, himself. Meanwhile, you’re trying to control your youngest as she starts to throw tantrums and learns the word “no.” This scenario is all too common, but there are simple tools you can use to increase your children’s compliance and decrease your stress.

  • Tell your older child what to expect.

If you just became pregnant, be sure your child is one of the first to know. As your pregnancy continues, tell your child what is going to change when the baby is born. Be clear that a new baby can’t do very much and is going to need a lot of help. Ask your child what he or she thinks about these changes.

While talking about what a new baby needs, it can also be helpful to tell stories about when your older child was born. Tell him how much you loved him as soon as you saw him. Tell her how excited other people were to meet her and hold her.

  • Give 20 minutes of attention each day.

Kids often act up when they are seeking attention. To prevent this, give them the attention they crave before they are desperate for it. Spend 20 minutes of one-on-one time with your older child every day – or as often as you can. Play games he likes. Hug her. Listen to everything he has to say. Be present and enjoy that time, without getting distracted by technology. It can be a challenge to find the time and energy to do this while your youngest toddler needs so much from you; but it will make all the difference in the end.

  • Involve everyone in baby’s care.

Give your older child some fun responsibilities. Let her pick out baby’s outfits, push the stroller, hold the bottle, or tell stories. Don’t force your older child to take on too many responsibilities, though. Simply offer opportunities and don’t forget to thank him every time he is helpful.

For more parenting support, join us for an Upcoming Live Workshop, browse our Libraries of Quick Video Solutions and check out our podcasts and other resources.  Questions? Email us at Solutions@Peaceathomeparenting.com or learn more about our Corporate, School and NonProfit programs.

TOPICS

Related Posts

Peace at Home

The Paradox of Intensive Parenting: Finding a Healthier

The Paradox of Intensive Parenting: Finding a Healthier Path for Your Child In today’s world, many of us

Peace at HomeOctober 01 , 2024
Peace at Home

Social Media and Screen Time: Protect Your Child's

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our children's lives. Recently, the U.S.

Peace at HomeJuly 26 , 2024
Peace at Home

Summer Unplugged: Encourage Kids to Get Off Screens

As summer approaches, many parents find themselves facing a familiar challenge: how to pry their children away from

Peace at HomeJune 27 , 2024
Peace at Home

LGBTQIA+ Representation in Kids’ Media

With PRIDE month in mind, we’ve gathered a list of resources for kids that have LGBTQIA+ representation. Having

Peace at HomeMay 23 , 2024
Peace at Home

Embrace the Sweet Month of June: Celebrate Big

Hello Peace At Home Families, For many families, June marks the end of the academic year. It's a

Peace at HomeMay 23 , 2024
Peace at Home

Lead Dads: The New Face of Fatherhood

When I spent time with an old friend from college several years ago, my life was very much

Peace at HomeMay 23 , 2024

Join our mailing lists for more parenting tips

Peace at Home