Bringing a new baby home is exciting, emotional, and a big adjustment — especially when you already have a toddler. One of my biggest goals during pregnancy was helping my son feel included, confident, and excited about becoming a big brother.
Here’s exactly how we prepared our toddler for his new baby sister and what helped make the transition smoother for our family.
Talking About the Baby Early & Often
From the very beginning, we talked openly about his sister being in my belly. We kept things simple, age-appropriate, and consistent.
We used phrases like:
- “Your sister is growing in Mommy’s belly.”
- “You’re going to be the best big brother.”
- “She’s so lucky to have you.”
The repetition helped him become comfortable with the idea long before she arrived.
Using Books to Explain His New Role
Books were one of the most helpful tools for us. They gave him visuals and language to understand what it meant to become a big brother.
We read these books often, especially at bedtime, and talked through what babies are like and how families grow.
Books we used:
Making Him Feel Included Before Baby Arrived
We didn’t want the baby to feel like a surprise that suddenly took attention away from him. Instead, we made him part of the process.
We let him talk to my belly, told him updates about his sister, and focused on how important his role would be as a big brother.
Stepping Into His Big Brother Role
One small but meaningful thing we did was letting him wear a big brother shirt before the baby arrived. It helped make the transition feel real and gave him something to feel proud of.
Big Brother Shirt: https://amzn.to/45bZ3wa
The Gift From Sister
Before the baby was born, we bought him a small gift from his sister with a note saying she couldn’t wait to meet him.
When he came to the hospital to meet her, we had another gift waiting for him from her. This helped shift the focus from the baby taking attention to the baby giving something to him, which made that first meeting feel extra special.
Tips That Helped the Transition After Baby Arrived
- Reassure often. We continued reminding him how loved he is and how great of a big brother he is.
- Let him help when he wants to. Small tasks helped him feel involved.
- Protect one-on-one time. Even short moments of undivided attention made a difference.
- Don’t force the relationship. We let things happen naturally and followed his lead.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your toddler for a new baby isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about helping them feel loved, secure, and included.
Talking early, using books, celebrating their new role, and making the first meeting special helped make this transition smoother for our family — and watching him grow into his role as a big brother has been one of the sweetest parts of this season.