Gift Ideas for the New Baby to Give Its Big Brother at the Hospital...

My son was a little over two when his brother was born a couple of years ago. He still takes pride in reading his big brother books. I think a big brother shirt and a big brother book would be fine. The shirt is something that he can wear to show off his new title. You can also put a note into the book so it becomes a keepsake. There are a lot of big brother books out there. My son received a few of them but the one that stuck out the most was written by Joanna Cole and is titled "I'm A Big Brother." It is smaller so it fits smaller hands and can go on trips. It talks about a new baby in the house, how much mommy and daddy still loves you, and gives tips at the end for parents to help children adjust to a new sibling.

Congratulations and good luck!

A.
SAHM of two boys - 4 1/2 yo and a 27 month old

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I had a baseball cap made with the words "Big Brother" embroidered on it for my 5 year old when his baby brother was born. He wears it all the time.

I'm assuming that the gift is to help fend off jealousy and to remind big brother that he's ultra special. I have 4 children now and have been very fortunate not to run into the green-eyed monster much. A few things that have worked for us...we always refer to the baby as "your baby sister (brother)"...rather than as "the baby." That helps build ownership and love. Also, my 3rd was showing early signs that she might become jealous right after the birth of my 4th. I told her that her baby brother was going to be her best friend when she got older...and that when he learned to walk that he was going to play with her. She is so good to him and so protective since then. While I don't think a gift is necessary (since a baby is a huge gift already), if you do buy one, it might be neat if it is from the baby to big brother. Have fun!

Congratulations on your new baby. When my daughter had her second child, I gave my grandson who was 2 1/2 at the time a cabbage patch boy baby doll. He is 20 ... almost 21 and still has Jimmy. The day his sister was born at the hospital, he got his baby. He moved away from home last year and Jimmy went with him. He is very much an outgoing, masculine dude but this doll continues to have sentimental meaning to him.
Good Luck.

Hi M.,
Have you thought about a 'build-a-bear'? You son could record a message for his new brother/sister. That would keep for the baby to grow up and hear, and your son would probably enjoy playing it for the baby and hearing himself. Just a thought.

OOPS...just reread and see that it is for baby to give BB. Well, still a possibility. Special books are always good too.

When I was pregnant with my youngest, I found the cutest teddy bears holding a picture frame. I bought one with a blue ribbon for my stepson and a pink ribbon for my daughter. When their baby brother was born, I had a picture taken of them holding their new baby. These pictures went into the bears as their gift. My daughter was 6 yrs old and my stepson was 3 yrs old, and I could not have given them a better gift. Whenever anyone came over to see the baby, the older 2 had to showoff their picture of just them holding their brother. Since my stepson lives with his mother, he was able to take it to her house. Both of them still have their bears with their picture, and the youngest has a copy of both in his baby book. My youngest will celebrate his 11th birthday next week.

We didn't have our baby give her older brother a gift, but we did have him bring in cupcakes and balloons to celebrate his little sisters birthday. Some friends of mine had done this when they had their 2nd child and it helped with the transition.

My daughter was 5 when she became a big sister. We too gave her a kid-tough digital camera and a photo album. It was a great thing to see her take pictures of her baby brother and then get so excited to show him off to her friends. It was also great to see him from her perspective...taking pictures of what she thougth was important, like his feet in the little socks, a close up of his little tuft of hair, etc.

I would also say that the camera was from Mom and Dad, not baby brother. It was our congratulations-on-being-a-big-sister gift. We also made it a point to have her introduce him to people when they came to visit, reinforcing the sense of pride in her and that she was a big part of the whole experience.

What does he like to do? Maybe a blank book that he can make about being a big brother. You can get them at many craft stores, including Hobby Lobby and Michaels. You could write the words for him and he can draw the pictures. It would give him something to keep him from getting bored in the hospital room and would be a great keepsake too!

Let us know what you decide.

When my youngest was born, we gave our 4 1/2 y/o daughter and 2 1/2 year old son each an almost life size baby doll for them to hold, care for, bathe, etc. while we were holding and caring for the new baby.
Their baby dolls were able to use some real diapers and some of the baby clothes, too.
I honestly think that this helped to avoid a lot of sibling rivalry that could have occurred at the time.
Congratulations in advance and good luck!

These are all great ideas. I don't have anything to add, but I do have a "funny" story along these lines. (It's funny now, but it wasn't at all funny then!)

My second son was born in 1984 when there was no internet and, of course, no Mamasource, so I was on my own. My oldest son, who was 22 months, loved Sesame Street and he also liked making things. So I bought him a Sesame Street Workbench, with a Big Bird hammer and a Bert something-or-other and so on.

He loved it. But when my "baby" was 2 weeks old, and my husband was out, my oldest came over (while I was nursing) and conked his brother in the head with the Big Bird hammer. I managed to get hold of my husband (no cell phones either) and we rushed the baby to the hospital.

He was unconscious for 30 minutes, but they checked him out and said it was just from shock. He was fine after that, and now he's nearly 25 and doing great in every way. Smart kid, and good too. And, amazingly, he and his older brother are very close. So now we can look back and chuckle at this frightening time.

So no toys that can be used to take out frustration! When my oldest had his two girls, we made sure he remembered the story, and I know we'll repeat it as each grandchild comes along.

I had our daughter give her big brother a t shirt that said, "I am the Big Brother". He loved it and wore it all the time. He grew out of it but I saved it. Maybe a stuffed animal that he will sleep with? Maybe a frame that says "big brother" or "baby sister" and then take a pic of him holding her in his lap on her day of birth and frame it....

How exciting, congrats!

W.

Mary,

If you like the camera idea, Fisher Price does have a camera for toddlers. My son got one for christmas about 2 years ago and he loved it. It works just like a digital camera. It actually takes real pictures and you can get a USB cord and actually print his pictures he takes. The camera cost around $30.00, if I'm not mistaken. This camera is child proof if they drop it, it's has a soft outer covering on it. Trust me my son dropped his on concrete and it's still working. You never know he might capture a moment that no one else does if he has this camera (hahaha). If this is not in your price range get some books about him being a big brother and helping with the baby. If he's not intrested in books I would get some type of toy that he is intrested in now. I hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!!!

S.

Oh my gosh, I LOVE the build-a-bear idea! But, if your little man isn't into stuffied animals too much, I can understand that. When my son was born, my daughter was 2 1/2 and her favorite thing was blocks! So, we were actually on the way home from the hospital and stopped at Toys-R-Us and got a big set of Legos and that's what her new baby brother gave her. To this day...both of them play with those blocks and they are now 5 & 3. =0) I would just incorporate his favorite thing into the gift. Another cute idea is a Cookie Bouquet from Cookies By Design (www.cookiesbydesign.com). They can do anything you ask them to. As a matter of fact, I had them make a big star cookie on a stick once to give a new big brother. They iced it blue and wrote "Congratulations, you're a big brother" on it! The way his eyes lit up when he saw that big ol' cookie was adorable. LOL =0) Good luck! What an exciting time!

Talk to your son about giving the baby a blanket and ask him what he thinks the baby will give him as a present. His response will be the thing that he wants the baby to give him. No matter what it is, that is what I would buy.

thats cute, how about a piggy bank?? i know louisville stonewear has things you can pick from. or get a blank piggy bank and decorate it from the baby,

Since your attention will be divided between two kids now I recommend something to keep him busy. Most of the time boys only care about vehicles. My son treasures his duplo/lego Thomas the Train. It's in a favored position on his shelf but still get tons of play time. I'm sure we'll keep it forever. Unlike the wooden ones, the paint doesn't scratch off. It's only 12 pieces.

I really don't want to burst your bubble, but my pediatrician recommended that my baby not sleep with anything in his crib. That included the bumpers people use on the cribs. I just wanted to pass that along. SIDS is such an issue when they are little. I know that is a gift from big brother, but it's something to think about.

My son was really into Curious George so we got him a little stuffed curious george from his baby brother. He thought that was the best thing and so nice of his brother to think of him..it was inexpensive and personal.

I don't know if they still make them but I think it was Fisher Price or Playskool made a camera that was made for younger children, plastic case that takes real pictures. Another idea could be a book about being a new big brother. If you check at the bookstore or possibly a librarian in the childrens department could help you find a book. Once you have the title and author you can find the book easier. Congratulations and God Bless

I would suggest an I'm the big brother shirt. I have a 3 and 7 year old and am planning on getting them one for when my baby is born in August. It makes them feel special and proud and it's something they can show off. You can get them online at cafe press or I think I saw one at Wal Mart the other day. Its also something you can put up for him when he gets older. Hope this helps and congrats on the upcoming arrival.

When my daughter was born I made my son a bag for the hospital. I included a shirt that said “I’m the big brother” a few books about big brothers, snacks, new coloring books and crayons, and a few small toys. The only thing that was really sentimental was the shirt but he loved it all just the same. I didn’t want him to feel left out and I wanted to get him things that he liked as well as things he could quietly play with while we were still at the hospital. However, I think the camera idea is great. All kids like to take pictures. You could even get him a disposable one, that way it won’t cost too much but he would have a blast with it!

I would suggest allowing them to "bring" gifts to each other. Something adorable and that you would both cherish would be I'm the Big Brother/Little Brother t-shirts along with a cheap disposable camera to take pictures of the baby and put them in an album he chooses. It will be a great treat for him to take pictures of the new little person in his life. As far as a special toy I went with a vermont teddy bear. They have lifetime warrenties. They may be more expensive, but they are a gift that will last forever and one that he will someday pass on to his children. I hope these ideas help.

I have had three babies in the past three years. When the sibling(s) come to the hospital, I have a present wrapped for them in bright wrapping paper from the baby. The presents are something they can play with there at the hospital while visiting. Such as magnet sets, art activities. I also got my little girl a baby doll and doll carseat so she could be "mommy" too. Good luck!

Look out! Here comes 'Miss Opinionated'! LOL

My new favorite quote is:
We don't love others according to what they've done for us. Our love for someone is directly proportionate to how much we've done for them.
It's so true, too.

My wonderful SIL sent around an email note when her second grandson was born that 'Baby Jack' brought older brother a gift 'and it was so nice of baby Jack', but it just doesn't sit right with me. Is the baby REALLY going to 'bring a gift' to the 3 yr old? NO. God gives the gift of babies, and I think this attitude should be what's perpetuated and promoted. Just as your older boy was a gift to you when HE came, the new baby is the gift to the family.

I think it would be more prudent for YOU to get the older one a gift for being such a 'good' -- patient, kind, helpful, thoughtful, loving, heroic -- 'BIG BROTHER'.

Do whatever you choose, but I believe truth, honesty, self-sacrifice, and service to others are the most important factors (and not taught enough these days).

My sister gave her two year old daughter a nice, wooden rocking horse from the new baby. That would certainly be something that he could keep and pass on to his children as well.