Hello Mamas,
We recently found out we are expecting our 2nd bundle of joy next April. While it seems like we have plenty of time I am already thinking about how to handle some things with our 21 month old. My biggest question right now is about whether or not to move his room.
His dad wants to move him to what is currently the guest bedroom because he thinks it is larger. I've not actually compared the square footage of his current room and the guest bedroom but I think they are pretty much the same size. I don't want to move his room because I want to minimize the amount of change our son experiences with the new addition. I don't want him to feel like his new brother/sister is the reason that he has to move (although that would be the reason). We only have 3 bedrooms so he'll either stay in his room or move to the guest bedroom.
If we do move him, we'll make a big deal about it in terms of getting a new bed, new theme (he loves airplanes, trains and balls right now), etc. and minimize it's connection to the new baby. I've been know to over analyze situations but since both his dad and I are only children, I'm overly sensitive to potential sibling issues and we don't have any experiences to draw from.
Anyone have any experiences or thoughts to share. TIA.
Thanks to all who responded. We're still not sure whether or not our son will move rooms but if he does, I already feel better about it. And you all gave me some wonderful tips on handling this even if he doesn' move rooms. Thanks a bunch!
I agree with some of the others. Make the move soon & make it a big deal that he is getting a new room & give him some 'choices' about things in his room.
I too worried a lot about sibling issues! And we have had non so far...and our second is about to turn 1. Our son was a little older than yours (He was 27 months when we found out we were expecting number 2), but we moved him before the baby came. There were a few reasons. Our guest room was a little larger and selfishly, I did not want to have to repaint and decorate another nursery. He had no problems with the move. We did it when a I was about five months along...still plenty of time before his sister was due, so he wouldn't feel like he was being "kicked out". He was excited about his big boy room! We did not mention that the baby would go into his old room until much later. Then we let him think it was his idea. When he asked where the baby would go after sleeping in mommy and daddy's room (we had explained the baby would stay in her cradle there for a while), I asked him where a good place for her would be. HE suggested his baby room. I let him helpo me get it ready for her...after I narrowed down choices, he picked burping cloths and some pjs. I let him fill the diaper basket with diapers. And while I cleaned,he used baby wipes to help. So it worked out well for us.
p.s. The book McDuff and the Baby is a great way of explaining all the time a baby may take when they first get home. It's about a dog. It was a great book for us. We must have read it a hundred times before his sister came, I think it helped he understand a little bit of what to expect.
I had 3 in 3 years. Your son will be old enough to welcome the new one as long as he feels he is a part of the whole deal. I wouldn't think changing his room would affect him at all, especially if you are going to fix it up to his liking. He'll have a sibling to play with and they'll love each other!!
We moved our first born into the guest room when pregnant with number two and it went really well. My advice is to do it NOW if you are going to do it so there's plenty of time between that and when the new baby comes. You are already on track... make a big deal about it with new bedding and furniture if you can. One question... Is he already out of the crib? My son wasn't so he transitioned into a twin bed during his move. It was fine BUT, when we moved #2 out of his crib when he was nearly two, it was a HUGE mistake. He was not ready for that and bedtime became very hard. So if your baby is still in a crib think about it long and hard before you move him out of it. You may want to purchase a second crib for the new baby instead.
We are about to celebrate the arrival of #6. We have not had any major issues with siblings feeling left out. We make it a habit to involve all of ours in the pregnancy, and being helpers when the newest sibling arrives. Our children share rooms, and they love it. As a matter of fact, they are 10,8,5,4,and 3, and none of them want their own room. There is the option of putting them both in the same room, and keeping the other room as your guest room. Just a thought.
i think i best if you move the kid months before the baby arrive that way he will not feel kick out ,and let him help you decorate the baby room .
We had a new baby when my older daughter was 18 months. The new baby slept with us in our room for a while - maybe 3 months. Then they shared the nursery for until the baby was 6 months and ready to move into the crib. We had her in a porto crib in the nursery and my older daughter remained in the crib. Then we moved my older daughter into her own room when she turned two. She had no issues with the transition and was excited to have her own room. I think it took about a week to adjust. In fact, everyone slept a lot better! Good luck!
i think you should make the decision as soon as possible and get the move done quickly so that he doesnt feel that the baby took "his" room. Also once you start to show include him in on as much of the baby stuff as you can. My daughter was 4 when i got pregnant with my youngest and she went to all my sonograms with me, helped us pick out stuff for the babies room, and even was at the hospital (in the waiting room) while i had the baby. Make it a big deal that he is going to be a helper now and things like that and I think it will all go smoothly
