Category: Raising a Big Sibling

In my worldview, one of the big tenants of being a “big kid” was growing independence.  This tenant was mostly self-serving as I needed time to rest while pregnant and newly delivered as well as time with a newborn.  I’d like to think it was also good for my oldest to be able to self-entertain.  […]

In the spirit of honesty, I am not a patient person.  I am also incredibly independent and have an issue with claustrophobia.  Thus, the baby phase is a tough one for me personally. It stands to reason, therefore, that I have limited to no patience for anyone who isn’t a baby acting like a baby. […]

Big kids are just that: big.  They are also still kids and, as a result, are not the most aware of their bodies.  For little “big” kids, controlling their bodies to be gentle is a real struggle.  Big kids are also curious about everything in their world, and when you’re talking about Mom’s growing belly […]

The most often discussed concern that I’ve seen regarding bringing home a new baby is jealousy.  Ironically, this emotion is also the most abstract, which means your older child is probably not articulating that they are feeling “jealous” (our friend, Daniel Tiger, has a decent episode about this emotion if you’re looking for something).  But, […]

There’s nothing like the dynamic between siblings.  For better or worse, these life-long, unavoidable relationships can be disastrous, delightful, and everything in between. It stands to reason then, that one of the more anxiety-laden issues with a second (or subsequent) pregnancy is how to prepare your first child for the birth of your second or […]