To you, your pregnancy will be the most exciting thing in the world, but to your child? Well, it might be the greatest news they’ve ever heard, but it’s also possible that it prompts something of an existential crisis. After all, they’ve probably gotten pretty accustomed to being the main attraction in the family, and learning that they’re going to have to share the limelight might be a little unwelcome.
You can’t guarantee that your child will automatically have a positive reaction, but there are ways to ensure that they eventually have a positive view of what’s happening. Mostly, it comes down to including them in your pregnancy whenever possible. In this post, we’ll run through a few key methods for doing just that.
Tell Them the Right Way
First of all, it’s nearly as important to choose when you tell your child about your pregnancy as it is important to choose how you do so. It’s generally best to wait until there’s a bump showing, since that can make it easier for children to understand what’s happening, especially if they’re young. Beyond that, it’s about explaining in a way that’s as low-key as possible. Explaining simply and calmly what’s happening is better than making a big song and dance; that approach can make the child feel under pressure to be excited, which might be the opposite of how they’re actually feeling.
Make Them Feel Special
Some children can feel a little threatened by the news that there’s a baby on the way, and that feeling can become even more pronounced when the baby actually arrives. Reassuring them that they’re still your special little guy/gal can go a long way to helping them accept the news with positivity. There’s no shortage of ways to make them feel special. You could even buy them a big sister or big brother jumper, or set aside a specific time each week when the two of you spend quality time together. You could even tell them that they’ll have plenty of special responsibilities when the baby arrives, which is great for having them feel part of the process.
Involve Them In the Planning
There’s a lot to do before your baby arrives, and it’s inevitable that a fair amount of your time and energy will be taken up with the planning. Rather than doing all of it yourself, involve your child whenever possible. Even getting their input about the decor choices for the nursery can help them feel involved.
Acknowledge their Feelings
Finally, perhaps the best way to prevent your child from having any unwanted reactions to your pregnancy is to acknowledge and validate their feelings. Maybe they feel that they’ll be pushed to one side and forgotten about when the new baby arrives; that might sound ridiculous to you, but to a young soul, the threat can feel very real. Acknowledging their experience and offering reassurance that it won’t be like that can go a long way to helping your child process uncomfortable feelings.
No Comments