Big Sibling Appreciation

When we were getting ready to welcome our second child, my husband and I decided to do everything we could to make sure that our son did not feel left out. We told him how much we’d need his help once the new baby arrived, that we would continue to do all his favorite activities, and also brought along a gift to give him at the hospital. Naturally, I was waiting for the perfect moment to give it to Brandon, but when he offered to push his newborn sister in the bassinet from my room to the nursery, I suggested that now might be a good time to open his special big-brother surprise. If you’re expecting another baby anytime soon, remember that getting your older kids excited about becoming a big brother or big sister is a good way to help ease the transition.  Each of these five gift ideas help do the trick!

What Big Brother/Sister Does Best by Laura Numeroff (pictured above). There’s no shortage of books about becoming a big sibling, but this one, written by the author of the popular “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” series, is a standout. It can be personalized to include your child’s name on every page for a truly special reading experience. The story includes pictures and descriptions of many of the activities that brothers or sisters can do with their younger siblings such as pushing them on a swing or working on a puzzle together. Your own dedication page and photo of your child round out the customization process. $35.

Big Brother/Sister Tool Belt. Your older child will love helping wash the baby with this special utility belt stocked with bath necessities ranging from shampoo to a cute wash cloth shaped like a lollipop. Watch out, or you may find yourself shampooing your baby’s hair over and over as your child keeps helpfully handing you more! Once the supplies are used up, they can be replaced or the belt can be loaded with anything else your kid desires. $35.

Big Brother T-shirt. I’m not going to pretend that most kids will get too excited over a t-shirt, particularly when their favorite character isn’t on it, but they will love telling everyone what their shirt says and all the attention and questions they’ll get when they wear it. This shirt comes in various colors and sizes and even has little and middle brother shirts available (unfortunately, no sister shirts are available at this time–but check back with the website soon). They can be personalized with your child’s name as well. $28.

Baby Doll by Corolle. Children often want to emulate what they see their parents doing.  But while they may not be old enough to help care for an infant, letting them copy what you are doing with a doll is a perfect way to involve them with their new sibling. Corolle makes great dolls, including this one, which is waterproof and can even be taken in the bath. The company makes plenty of doll accessories to go with it as well, so your older kid can do just about anything with the doll that you do with the real baby. $26.

I’m The Big Brother/Sister Photo Album. My son loved going through all of the 12 photos we put in this album and hearing how important his new role was. Available in green (big brother) or pink (big sister) with faces of older and younger siblings on the cover, it also has a handle to make it easy to carry around. This book is both soft and durable, making it perfect for baby to use as well and eventually learn faces from. $14.