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Pregnancy alone is very difficult for a child to understand, but it gets even more difficult for them once the baby arrives. All of the attention is drawn to the new baby and the little toddler gets left out. The toddler is then in a constant battle to gain attention and specifically has very little desire to interact with the new baby. By being aware of the situation and following a few key steps, you can help you toddler adjust to a new baby.
Quality Time - Quality time is vital to a toddler. Be sure to not neglect your child. As a new parent, you can easily be so consumed with the new addition that you forget your other child. Taking care of a baby also requires a lot of time and you may not feel up to doing anything else. You must make it a point to spend some time with your toddler. Small things such as going for a walk, playing a game, or buying ice cream can really go a long way.
Be Open - By being open with your child, they can learn why a new baby requires so much of your time. Teaching them that a baby cannot do anything for themselves is important. Each time you do something for the baby, take time to explain what you are doing and why you are doing it.
Involve Them - After you are open with your toddler and they understand why you are spending so much time with the new baby, you will be able to find opportunities to involve your child in specific tasks. By giving them jobs to do, they feel important. Simple jobs like getting a diaper, holding a bottle, and finding the pacifier can give a sense of accomplishment for your toddler. They will begin looking for ways to help and will actually integrate themselves into the life of the new baby.
Don't Force Them - Forcing a new baby into the life of your toddler and be very dramatic. More than likely they will want to have nothing to do with the baby. They will be into other things and act as if the baby does not exist. If you force your toddler to interact with the new baby, you will actually push the child further away. By being patient with this process, the toddler will eventually come around. By adding in the process of being open and involving then, they will adjust up more quickly.
