2Nd on the Way... Need Advice!

My son was 2 years and 2 months when my baby girl was born. She's now 7 months old. We moved my son to the big bed about 2 months before the baby came. I thought getting him adjusted to a new bed before she came was important so that there wouldn't be too many changes once the baby was here. He seemed to do fine.

I made sure once the baby was here that I would say things like, "OK baby, it's Tyler's turn with Mommy," and I would make sure he knew when he was getting one on one attention with me. It's still hard sometimes. As soon as I'm feeding or changing the baby, Tyler demands my attention....he wants juice or a snack or a toy that's out of reach. So I try my best to meet all of his needs before I sit down to attend to the baby. He's old enough to learn that he can wait and share....even though it's hard.

I will say, though, that my little boy ADORES the baby. He's loved her from day one, so that's been a major blessing. The only difficult part for me has been his jealousy over my divided time.

I have #2 on the way as well. My daughter will be 3 in May and has been in a big girl bed since January and is doing great. I would not move him until you know he is ready - climbing out of crib, talking about big boy bed, ect. Otherwise I think it would be a big battle to keep him n it. My daughter was old enought to understand and think it was a privledge to get to sleep in her big girl bed and still tells people about it. Good luck!

Congratulations! They will eventually grow to be the best of friends. My youngest two are 3 weeks shy of being 2 yrs. apart and there really aren't a lot of sibiling rivalry issues and their never have been. Once we found out we were pregnant with #3 we began talking to her about a big girl bed, asking her if she wanted one etc. We let her pick out her bedding(with a little help from big Sis) and she loved it and did great. One thing that we didn't do was push potty training-its tough financially but we just did it b/c we didn't want her to feel "pushed out of the cradle" just for the newest baby and we didn't want to deal with accidents once baby got here. We also didn't take away her paci, which she was addicted to, we dealt with both of these things once baby was here and we were all used to him. One last thing, as much as you can, continue to let him be the baby-have special time just with/for him and give him a few special priveleges and let him know that those are b/c he's the big brother. HTH

Congrats! I just found out I'm due in Nov., and I have a 20 month old in the crib. We're moving in about a month, and I'll move him to a big bed then. I would start transitioning now, so your 2 yr. old doesn't look at the baby like "you're taking my bed!" This way you have plenty of time getting him used to the new bed before the transition of bringing a new baby home. With a child so young, he really won't understand what's going on until the baby comes home. I bought my son a baby doll so I can start showing him how to be gentle with the baby...it's so cute watching him "feed" the baby it's bottle! I got a cabbage patch newborn b/c it wasn't extremely "girly" looking. Good luck!

whatever changes you want to make before baby arrives, i'd start making them NOW, that way big brother won't really associate the changes with the baby. my oldest was just over 2 when he went to a twin bed, and my middle child was 19 months when he moved to a toddler bed(he kept getting his chunky legs stuck in the railings and we nearly had to break his leg to get it out the last time - so we went off on an emergency mission for a toddler bed). i have three kids, ages 6, 3, and 13 days. my 6 year old didn't have any issues adjusting to the 3 year old, and so far both have adjusted well to our newest addition. i think sometimes we tend to overthink and overcompensate when our kid's worlds get shaken up a bit - my boys are learning/have learned that of course their needs will be met, but that their little sister has needs as well that have to be met. we also have four indoor dogs, so the boys are used to having to wait a few minutes if we are tending to the dogs, so it's probably not a huge change to them! will your kids be sharing a room? are their rooms going to be close to each other? if so, i'd suggest getting a cradle/bassinet/pack n play for your room to keep the baby in the first few months. congrats on the new addition!

I don't know if you are interested, but I heard that a great nanny agency in Dallas, Mom's Best Friend, just launched a Family Coaching program. It sounds like they are working with a very qualified family coach who can help with any and all family issues, kid issues, etc. My friend told me they use some program called "Bringing Baby Home." It might be worth a shot!!I found their phone #...it is ###-###-####. Their website is www.momsbestfriend.com also.

My boys are 2 years and 6 months (almost to the day) apart. I haven't had to deal much with sibling rivalry between them (now 3 and 5.5), but one thing that saved me was - while pregnant - establishing a routine whereby there were 3 or 4 cups in the bottom shelf of the refrigerator with soy milk, water, and watered down juice in them - and my son became accustomed to getting his own cup and putting it in the sink when he was done; and we had a snack drawer that had some crackers, a fruit, different things like that - where he would ask, get it, and bring it to me (or Daddy) to open.

He also started bringing me his diaper, putting his clothes in the hamper, stuff like that - while I was pregnant. Once the baby was born, a sling was my lifesaver - but Cole was accustomed to getting his drink, his snack, and was the biggest helper in the whole wide world about getting a baby diaper, etc. He got a big kick out of being a 'big boy big brother' - and still takes that role very seriously.

S.