Not sure how to explain a baby is on the way to your toddler? Bone up on everything you need to know—from how to break the news, to explaining pregnancy to a toddler, to prepping your child and getting her excited for a new sibling.
Announce to your family and friends that you’re expecting again, and you’re bound to be greeted with enthusiastic rounds of congrats. Tell your toddler the big news, and the reaction definitely won’t be such a sure thing. For starters, a young toddler likely won’t have the slightest clue what you’re talking about (“A baby in Mommy’s tummy…huh?”). Even if your little one grasps the basics, the announcement could leave a lot of mixed emotions in its wake: confusion (“What does being a big sister or brother mean?”), excitement (“Cool — a new buddy!”), anger (“I have to shareyou?!”), anxiety (“Will you still love me?”), complete disinterest (“Yeah, yeah — now what about the trip to the park?”) or all of the above.
The reality is, a toddler’s whole mom-cenric world is changing in ways that can be scary and unsettling. And while there will eventually be plenty of upsides to having a brother or sister, easing the transition from only to oldest will take a bit of patience and planning. Follow these tips to ensure fewer bumps as your own bump grows.
