When Do You Tell Your Child

Hi K.:
You received an excellent response from SH. I think it wise to wait until after the crucial weeks.After that,I think sharing your experiences of your pregnancy with your daughter a wonderful,way to bond and it allows her to feel a special attachment to her sibling,before he even arrives. Your daughter has wanted a brother or sister,for some time. I don't know about you K. but if I was a little girl of six,and all my friends had shared for some time, of their fond memories with their siblings. I'd be YELLING it from the ROOFTOPS,over the PA system at school,and telling every STRANGER that would listen
"I'm going to BE A BIG SISTER!! You must allow her to enjoy this extremely happy moment,by sharing the news. I wish you and your darlin girl the best.J. M

She is 6? Why wouldn't she understand? I have a 6yo and shoot, maybe she knows more than she should about this topic - LOL! You do what you want but if it were me, I'd tell my 4 and 6 yo in a heartbeat and bring them along to appt's if they wanted to come. My daughter at 2 came to all my appts. She didn't get it then - at all, but it was still fun.

Congratulations!!
M.

i think it would be ok to tell her when your past the misscaraige months. if you want to enclude her to your drs visits thats ok she can hear the babies heart beat :) also she may want to go when you find out what your having. i just think waiting to tell her till after your a few months along would be best for the just in case you loose the baby.

Well, its up to you... as we women know, the first 3 months are the crucial times... when I was pregnant a 2nd time... I was only about 6 weeks pregnant... we hadn't told our daughter yet... and luckily, because I had a miscarriage.

With my 3rd pregnancy, with my now son... we told our daughter at about 2 months... and she was very happy.
I took her to all my pre-natal visits and my OB/GYN actually encourages it and doesn't mind... my Doctor even taught my girl how to put the doppler gadget on my tummy to hear the heartbeat, and my daughter would do it at each visit. And my Doctor and I would just instruct my daughter to stay near my head or upper body area... if anything "private" had to be examined. My daughter was fine about it and she LOVED going to the Doctor with me.

I did not of course, take her to my ultrasounds in the 2nd trimester, because it was for my amniocentesis as well. But for regular monthly pre-natal visits, I took my daughter. She found it so fascinating and she was proud to be with me to check her brother at the Doctor.

But its a personal decision.
Each month as well, I took a photo of my growing tummy WITH my daughter right next to my tummy. She LOVED doing this... and we often took pictures together with my tummy... and she would even take pictures of me herself... of her pregnant Mommy. She was about 3 years old at this time, and she could use our digital camera. It was a nice photo "journal" we had compiled. Just the 2 of us... and my tummy with her brother in it.

At 6 years old, a child can understand a lot. Also about "privacy." My daughter, understood what "privacy" was and that we don't just go around telling people everything that is personal in our family. You just explain to them. But if she can't help it, then you need to understand and just be prepared for your "private" news being broadcast.

OR, wait to tell her until your tummy growth starts to show.

All the best,
Susan

Hi K., I have a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old and a 4 month old When i found out i was pregnant i was crazy excited and my 5 yr old who was 4 at the time didnt exactly understand:) but he knew i was getting fat and he new he was gonna be a big brother again and he was really excited too. He helped pick out clothes and everything more than my husband did.. the point is he was only 4 and he was extremely understanding and ask your 6 yr old for an opinion on clothes and things for the baby it will help so your 6 yr old doesnt feel left out. and they have a preety good fashion sense:) btw my 2 yr old didnt really care cuz he was still too young to understand. but they both adore thier sister no and they went to the ultrasound and my son thought it was the coolest thing in the world to finally see what was in my fat belly:) so Good luck with everything

D.
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D. J.
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www.there4myfamily.com

If this is a no risk pregnancy then I would tell her soon. Especially if you are a 'sick' pregnant mom, like morning sickness, fatigue and so forth. Knowing why Mommy is feeling this way will ease alot of concerns your daughter imagination will create. My daughter was 4 when I was pregnant with baby #2, she did most of my appts with me, just the basic ones ~fetal heartbeat, tummy measurements, and the ultra sounds! She LOVED it. She has a wonderful bond with her little brother, and was an old pro for her second little brother =} You know her best though, so whatever you think she can handle let her. At 4 my daughter knew that babies were gifts from God and how they got out of the mommys tummy, she knows more now =} CONGRATS and God bless you and yours.