Hey there, can totally relate! We went through this just a few months ago. We brought Paris a pressie from the baby (Ayja), and got Paris to go and help daddy choose a pressie for her to give to ayja. some people get matching things like t-shirts or teddy bears etc. we made sure that when she first came up to see us i wasn't holding Ayja when she walked in.. so that she could have long awaited cuddles with me. we left ayja in her bed until paris became curious about her.
We talked alot about mummy going to the hospital to have the baby and then Paris could come up and see us and have cuddles with mum and the baby. We tried to mainly prepare her for mummy not being there, because even after all our preparations, she still was a bit upset when she suddenly woke up one morning and mummy wasn't there. We had a false alarm a few days before hand so i think her waking up and having nana sleeping in our lounge helped a little, because when the real thing happened, she woke up and nana was there again, only mummy wasn't this time. so try and have a practise run-thru a few times so that your older child won't be put in an unfamiliar situation. leave them with the person that will be caring for them for a few hours at first, then try an overnight stay just in case.
there are a heap of great books as melz said, um, theres one called my mummy laid an egg, and another called there's a house inside my mummy. we got a really simple one called hello peanut, very simple and easy for little ones to understand... sees things from thier level...how big is the baby, as big as a dot, a peanut, a doormouse, an elephant - and shows the mummies tummy getting bigger each time. but6 overall - not much will probably sink in till baby gets here.. it's a case of learning as you go.
one thing i have found is that no matter what, paris will always start being a real monster when i cannot get up and do anything about it - ie, when i am feeding Ayja, so i guess having a little "disaster kit" for when you are feeding can help - a little snack etc, maybe a special toy that only gets played with when you are feeding so it's something new to keep her quiet for those few mins.
Try and take a team approach between you and hubby... don't always be the one to see to the newbie - let hubby do it so you can spend time the older child too. put newbie down on a playmat or in a bouncer next to you while you sit to play with the older child. and make a big thing of the younger one being interested int he older one. paris is just starting to be really funny because ayja will follow her around the room with her eyes and smile and coo, and yesterday when she was having tummy time she watched paris playing. - let them know how much their little borther/sister loves them. when you give baby cuddles, encourage older one to join inso they don't feel left out - and so they learn that love and attention can be shared around.
good luck, you'll do fine. hope that's some help to you.
Edited by mum2paris
Second time mum
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