“Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring – quite often the hard way.” –Pamela Dugdale
My sister Deb is three years younger than me. She is one of my best friends…now. But, when she came home from the hospital, I was foursquare against giving up my rightful place as the only girl. One afternoon, my grandmother was holding sweet little innocent newborn Deb and I said, “Granna, put that dumb baby DOWN!” Fortunately, the rivalry was short-lived and Deb and I ended up being favorite playmates and shared a room until I left for college. (Of course, my grandmother insisted on retelling that story to her friends every time I came for a visit.)
My parents could have benefited from the Community Hospital class I took with my kids this week: “Siblings class.” It’s a ‘what to expect when your mom brings that little interloper home from the hospital’ class designed for the new baby’s brothers and sisters.
I have four children. My older boys, ages 10 and 12, were not too excited about going to the class. I promised them that they would not have to change any diapers and we’d get pizza in the hospital cafeteria afterwards. My younger kids, ages 8 and 6, were looking forward to the class. Especially my daughter, Claire, the 6-year-old, because she WAS hoping to change a diaper!
The siblings class is a wonderful, one-hour introduction to life after a baby comes home. There are several ‘stations’ set up that teach older siblings how to keep their hands clean (thanks to glow in the dark sparkle hand gel and a device called ‘Mr. Germ’), how to diaper a baby and how to buckle a newborn into a car seat. They also learn how they can contribute by being the ‘big helper’ around the house, and there is even a small library with books about new babies that families can read together. The kids watch a short video about what will happen to mom while she in the hospital and then the entire family gets to tour the maternity floor and peek into the nursery windows.
Although my older kids had their doubts, the siblings class turned out to be a fun way for our entire family to get ready to welcome our newest member.
What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs almost five-and-a-half pounds.
*Most babies will now be head down (the traditional birthing position). Less than 5 percent of babies are breech (bottom down).
*Many parents begin narrowing their list of baby names now. Keep in mind that while a unique spelling or name may sound interesting now, your baby will have this name for the rest of their life. Some parents wait until their baby is born to name them in order to see if the name will ‘fit’ their baby.
What’s happening with ME this week?
*I am amazed that after finally being free of a diaper bag, wipes and the need to buckle children in their seats, I am entering the world of babies once again.
*My children suddenly seem very grown up and tall.
*I am getting excited to have a new little one, even though it will be chaotic.
Community Health Network’s siblings class can help you prepare your other children for baby’s arrival. Click here to register!
Let’s hear from you!
If you have other children at home, what are some successful ways you have prepared them for a new sibling?