I know, I know, one can never be fully prepared for a new baby, whether it's your first, second, third or so on. BUT I'm not worried about me, not really anyway, I do worry about Kendall.
I obviously want this transition to go as smoothly as possible and we are trying to avoid too many changes happening around that time. For example we went ahead and tackled potty training about a month or two ago and it's been a complete success. She's 98% potty trained, as in she does have a few accidents here and there but they are usually just a little "oops" and she realizes it and we run to the potty. She takes her naps in her panties now but still sleeps in a Pull Up, just in case. I think it's safe to say she wakes up every morning dry but I just want to be extra cautious because, I mean, it's been like 2 months.
We also transitioned her to the big girl bed last month and so far so good, kind of. We had a few weeks where sleeping through the night was an issue {I talked about that last week} but now, besides waking up to go potty once a night, she's doing really good sleeping again. We have had two falling out of bed incidents but other than that she's taking to the new bed really well. It totally shocked me because she's very much a creature of habit and doesn't really like when things change or are different from what she's used to but she's handled this really well.
The next thing on our list of things to accomplish before James Weston is born is the binky aka "baa-boo". I swear this is going to be the hardest one for us. I swore we'd take it away when she turned one but then "awe she's still a baby!!!" and we let her keep it, telling ourselves 18 months would be the cut-off. That came and went and then we were approaching our first family car trip {12 hours with an almost 2-year-old} and I thought "HELL to the NO, we NEED that thing! But after the trip." Well, that was August. So here we are with a 2.5 year old who still takes a binky. In our defense, she's restricted to only having it in her bed and in the car but she knows and she relies on it in those moments. So yeah, any pointers there?
Something else I'm trying to do to get her used to the idea of a sibling is getting her involved in all the baby-ness going on in our house. When we do any kind of projects in the baby's room I let her come in and help me sort through clothes or even just play with her toys in his room {because, YAY! A new room! This is so fun {to a toddler}!!}. If we are shopping for him I let her help pick out some of the things we need and she thinks that is really cool, "yook what I got Baby Brudder!!!".
Now that we can feel movement on the outside I've been trying to get her in on that action but, if you've ever been pregnant before, you know how that goes. "OOHH come feel!!" KP puts her hand on my belly and nothing, of course. Last week she grabbed her doctor kit though and said, "let my hear him" and put it up to my belly and in that moment I almost melted into a giant puddle of mommy mush.
We also got a "Baby Brudder" doll aka a boy baby doll, since all of her dolls are girls we thought that it might make more sense to get a boy and start having her "help" do things with/for him. The amazing people at North American Bear Company sent us a Rosy Cheeks boy along with some fun extras like a changing pad, extra diaper, bib, bottle, toy, and blanket for him. Kendall has loved playing with him and I really think that it's starting to click that she's going to soon have a real baby to do these things with. She's gotten pretty good at changing his diapers and if she's not careful I may just put that skill to test when James Weston is born*.
And the fine folks at North American Bear Company would like to help you prepare for a new baby, buy a gift for your current baby or maybe you have a birthday party coming up and would love to save $50 by winning a $50 shop credit to their online store! The entries are simple and the giveaway will be announced on Friday! Good luck!
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*But we're trying to keep it fun. I mean she's only going to be our only child for 4 more months so it's not all baby all the time.
I was not compensated for this review, however, I was provided with the products pictured for review.
April 16, 2013
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I don't have an older child, but when I was pregnant I tried to prepare my dog (who was our baby at that time)... we had her around other babies, let her smell baby items and tried to help her get ready... so did not work as she was PISSED when we brought the baby home. The dog loves the baby to death now... but those first few weeks were messy. Is it sad that we put so much into preparing our dog?
ReplyDeleteTheres a possibility i should not be commenting on this because I dont have an older child to prepare as of yet for a new baby. My sister on the other hand had a almost 3 year old boy to prepare for a new baby (and at the end of her pregnancy was in the hospital for almost 4 weeks with preclamsia.) She actually did the same exact thing you did. She bought him a baby doll. I know some people are very against little boys and dolls, but it was similar to the one you bought and was perfect. She would have him feed it, pat its back etc. I think that is the perfect preperation (and probably how I will prepare Molly if I ever have another child!) I think you are doing a wonderful job! :)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop in and say Hi! Im from muffintopmommy! We just found out we are expecting and I am 7 weeks today and we have a daughter who turned 2 in February. We are about to go through the potty training process too - because I do not want two babies in diapers (or I would prefer to not have two in diapers).
ReplyDeleteWe got rid of the binky a few months before our daughter turned two. It went from just allowed in the car and sleeping to just sleeping and then eventually we just stopped giving it to her and she had no problems. So, by two she was binkie free. It was getting my mom (grandma) to stop giving it to her that was the biggest challenge. She will do better then you think - Leah did!
I love the little boy doll! So cute! We are hoping for a boy!
If you want to follow along my baby blog - its www.babywink2.blogspot.com
My almost three year old just gave up the paci this past weekend. I was just like you - and she only got it when she was in bed. If you have an upcoming dentist appointment, take her with you. The dentist (who also happens to be family) told her that she was a big girl and didn't need a paci anymore, and that it was time to throw them away. (Extra motivation, he said her soft pallette was forming around the paci and she would have an overbite!) We cut it off cold turkey for nap that day, Saturday. She still asks for it but we explain what the dentist said. She says "member when I went to the dentist? member when Uncle Billy said no more pacis?" So she gets it. Also, check out "No More Paci for Piggy" - a book to help explain that they aren't needed!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck - sorry this was so long :)
Try clipping off part of the pacifier each day so it gets shorter and shorter. You definitely want to eliminate it as quickly as possible as it's not good for speech development - I am a speech therapist, and I can spot a kid on a pacifier quickly. Good luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving reading all your updates. I just got pregnant (only 6 weeks and 3 days) but YAY. After 5 months of trying we were SO thrilled. I have a 3 year old. She is over the moon excited but I'm sure as the time draws nearer it will become scary and strange for her. I'm hoping she will get my easy going spirit and doesn't let it effect her. But I guess we will see!!
ReplyDeleteI love that doll :)
I only have one child so no preparation for an older child but much prep for me :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is an only child but our friends bought a special present for their other child when the baby was born. To big sis from new baby.
ReplyDeleteMy son voluntarily gave up the pacifier, so I don't have a suggestion based on my experience, but I have a friend who had their daughter (almost age 3) collect all her pacifiers in a jar and put them outside her room for the "paci fairy" with some explanation about giving them to other babies or something. Then after she went to bed, they replaced the jar with a toy (a pink tricycle) and a note from the paci fairy. It worked for them.
ReplyDeleteI currently only have one "baby" {he'll be two in July}, but my husband & I are trying to turn him into a big brother. I'm loving the tips from you & Laura, though!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any children yet, but I'm a week away from my baby's due date and we have been preparing the room and house for her arrival. We have a cat, so that's sorta like having a child already. I've let her into the babies room and sniff around. Hopefully she doesn't hate us too much!
ReplyDeleteThese are good tips. I'm really worried about how my daughter will react when the baby comes. She is just so young so I'm not sure what will happen. I am giving myself until she is 2 to get rid of the pacifier but I know it's a lot easier said than done!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was pregnant with #2 we would just tell our daughter that a new baby was coming. With baby #3 she practices on her dolls giving them baths etc. she also has good practice for the new baby because she has baby cousins now.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine told her little boy (2 1/2 at the time), that the Binky Fairy was going to come at night when he's sleeping to take his pacifiers so another baby could have them. They put all of his pacifiers outside (so not to scare him that the Fairy would be in his room and house) before bed one night, together, and the next morning they were all gone. He did awesome with it. And b/c the Fairy took them there wasn't a spare one laying around 'just in case'. He just turned 3 a week ago and still mentions it when he sees another baby w/ a pacifier, but otherwise he's just fine w/o it. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteAll of these are my worries for my Kendall and I'm not even pregnant yet! I can offer some advice on the paci. We just rid Kendall of her nightly paci a few weeks ago. Honestly, we just hid them. She only used it an night and even then not the whole night. In it's place, she requests barbies, toys, or stuffed animals to have with her in bed. I was shocked at how much she doesn't miss it! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI currently have one child so I haven't embarked on this journey just yet but I admire your tactics of preparing your daughter for big sisterhood. You've given me ideas of methods to put into practice when it's time for my daughter to become a big sis.
ReplyDelete~ Osh
Www.0b00.blogspot.com
We talk about the baby all the time and she'll even point to the crib and say "dats Mikey's bed" but I honestly don't think she gets it. I think she's just parroting. I bought lots of books about siblings and we've watched Max and Ruby/Caillou/various other shows about big brothers and sisters. I'm following this post because I need all the tips I can get!
ReplyDeleteThat baby set would be perfect for my daughter. Changing babies (her dolls) is her favorite activity!
ReplyDeletethe pacifier issues was an easy one to break for me. But I do have a friend that did the same thing as you... bed time and car rides only. One day her dad got tired of seeing it in her mouth so he took it from her and threw it in the trash. Told her it's time to be a big girl so no more binkys. He wasn't mean about it and she didn't go in the trash to get it. Mom did have to hunt all 1232354 spares down. 1.5 year old did great without it and hasn't has one for 6 months, she is almost 2.
ReplyDeleteI'm expecting my first, so I don't have any tips, but we do have a dog who we are obseesed with and I'm worried it's going to be hard on her. I know that seems silly, but I know she'll naturally get less attention once the baby is here and it's going to make me sad. Don't feel bad about the binky - my friends 4.5 year old still uses one occasionally! That's terrible - they just won't make her completely stop for some reason!
ReplyDeleteOoo I love the baby boy doll.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you all are getting prepared. I bet she's going to be a great big sister. I worried about my 2 year old adjusting to Miss Annalee when we brought her home but it was much easier than I thought it was going to be. He's like a Mother Hen to her now!
ReplyDeletei think kendall will do great!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet she wanted to hear James! As for the pacifiers, I have no clue. I was two when my brothers were born and still using a pacifier. My mom decided it wasn't worth the fight, waited until the next Christmas when my brother's turned 1 and we all gave our pacifiers to Santa Claus. She says none of us ever asked for them again :)
ReplyDeleteWe read lots of books and visited other babies to give Lo a feel of what it would be like. I also pointed out every baby we saw anywhere. I guess that was kind of socially inappropriate. But hey, it worked. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm 22 weeks preggo with my 3rd (first are twins), so I'm preparing right along with you. We do a lot of talking about baby sister and they like kissing "baby sister" on my tummy :)
ReplyDeleteLuckily with B being special needs he has no clue that he is going to be a brother...but I still need preparing to have two...YIKES!!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is obsessed (its scary) with her paci and it's going to be hell getting her off it. People make it sound so easy but I've already tried cutting it off cold turkey or explaining to her she's a big girl and doesn't need it. If she wasn't screaming bloody murder she was constantly crying and whining for her paci. I say your sanity is worth more than getting her off it and she'll be ready eventually. Hopefully all goes well for you, I wish you the best!
ReplyDelete