The Baby and His Environment

My Brother Is Here
Observe your baby, but also observe yourself. If you already have another small child you will need to take additional precautions. Generally, children under five years of age resist the presence of the new baby, but it would be unjust to blame them for this reaction, especially if they have been the only child in the family until the arrival of the member in the family.

Once the baby is home, do not be surprised if the older child slips a little: he might want to go back to bottle drinking, if he already left it, or he might wet his bed or his pants. This is only a sign of seeking for attention.

The feeling of resentment can be reduced down to a minimum if you prepare the terrain with anticipation, making the older child feel that the baby is part of the family and not only of mommy and daddy.

If necessary move the older child to a different room with enough anticipation so that he does not feel overtaken and turn him into an accomplice of the baby’s birth by asking him to find names with you, allow him to help out in the decoration of the baby’s room or to choose clothes and toys for his little brother. Give him easy jobs, such as asking him to pass the diaper to you when you are changing the baby or the blanket so you can cover the baby. Remember that young children are sometimes rough and will treat the baby as if he is a toy. Allow the older child to get near and touch the baby, but you will need to be alert in case he or she wants to pull on the baby’s hair or hurt him.