Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling

Your guide to

A guide that will give you confidence and connection with your older child(ren) as you prepare them for the arrival of their new sibling.

You are preparing to welcome a new child into your family. The last thing you need is to feel overwhelmed and worried with how it is going to impact your older child(ren).

You already have so much on your plate preparing for your new baby to arrive. You not only already have a child (or more) to care for, but you’re managing your own physical symptoms, medical appointments, reorganizing baby clothes, preparing space for all of the baby items that seem to take up the entire living room, and more.

When you lay in bed at night and have a quiet moment, just when it’s time to shut your brain off and sleep, you think, “Wait, my baby isn’t going to be my baby anymore.” Suddenly you realize that preparing your older child(ren) for their new sibling is something you need to add to the to-do list, but it already seems like time is ticking away too quickly.

This change comes with so many feelings, which can definitely be overwhelming.

There’s the grief that comes with your baby not being “the baby” anymore. There’s the excitement of adding a new child to the family and imaging all of the fun they will have with their sibling(s). There’s the anxiety of wondering if you have everything prepared. There’s the exhaustion that comes with being pregnant while parenting and preparing for this transition.

The last thing you need is to feel lost on how to prepare your child for this transtion.

It’s becoming clearer than ever that you just need a plan. A simple, step-by-step guide on exactly what to do to prepare your child.

When you’re honest with yourself, you know that even just Googling to find the perfect tips can feel too overwhelming. You are preparing for the birth of a whole new human, and you need to preserve your mental energy whenever you can because everything feels like a priority right now, and there’s only so much of you to go around.

The problem is, even when you search for the perfect tips, it can cause more overwhelm because it feels like there is only so much time in a day to get everything done. Those articles, blogs, and posts don’t tell you exactly how you can prepare your child in a way that honors their attachment to you and also integrates into the routine that you already have, so it doesn’t feel like you’re adding yet another thing to your to-do list.

They don’t tell you specifically how you can use the power of your words, which is something you can do while your child eats breakfast and you talk about the day ahead, like you already do. Or, they don’t tell you how you can help your child feel safe and in control through their play that they are already doing on the daily. Or, they don’t give you a list of the perfect books that can help prepare your child while you read during their bedtime routine.

And that’s why I’m here. I have done all of this, and more, to make the preparation process as smooth as possible, while also helping you nurture your child’s attachment to you along the way.

Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling

Drumroll please!

while keeping their attachment in mind

Your own PDF guide with everything you need to know to prepare your child(ren) for a new sibling!

  • The basics of attachment and how a new sibling may impact your child’s attachment

  • How to prepare yourself in order to prepare your child

  • How to prepare your child for the whole transition, step-by-step

  • How to prepare your child for your hospital stay

  • How to facilitate the siblings’ first meeting

  • Expected responses and how to support your children

  • Troubleshooting issues that may arise

Reviews from parents like you!

“Michelle's guide is the perfect mix of tips and tricks with mindfulness and reflection. You'll get practical tips to support your little one for their upcoming transition, but you'll understand WHY these tips work. What was most helpful for me was the reflection piece, something we often forget to do as parents. This guide is a valuable tool for anyone expecting a second, third, fourth child. Thank you Michelle!”

-Paula M.

“I wanted to reach out and let you know how much your sibling guide has helped me. My baby is now 6 weeks and my toddler is doing so well. He’s had some jealousy as expected but we’ve been able to support him through it. I’ve found myself referring back to the guide whenever we come up on challenges and it’s always so validating. Thank you!”

-Alexis

“I just read the guide and wow! Just wow! thank you so much!!! It’s amazing and also a great resource to share with my partner so we’re on the same page with our parenting. You put things into words way better than I can when trying to talk about what I’ve learned from you and your page!”

-Nic

With a new baby on the way, you have enough to worry about.

Take the stress out.

Take the stress out.

  • Feel confident that you have prepared your child the best that you can

  • Feel assured that your child knows what to expect when their sibling arrives

  • Feel connected to your older child(ren) as your prepare for the arrival of your new baby

Take the stress out of the sibling preparation process and let me guide the way!

Have multiple transitions to prepare for?

Bundle and save!

Get the Sibling Guide and the Childcare Transitions Guide at a discounted price!

You’ve got questions, I have answers!

  • The concepts discussed in this guide are appropriate for children ages 1-6. However, the transition prep tools taught in this guide can be used for any transition at any age with some slight modification to meet your child's developmental level.

  • As soon as you can! It is best to prepare early (I discuss this further in the guide). It's also okay if you are halfway through your pregnancy, or even in the last month. Preparing at any time is still better than not preparing at all!

  • The transition prep tools I discuss in the guide can be applied to any transition, with some modification from you to best fit your situation. This guide primarily focuses on preparation before, during, and slightly after. Please don't hesitate to reach out with some details about your situation if you would like me to give insight on if this guide would be helpful for you or not!

  • This guide was built to help your little one in the transition process, including before your little one's arrival, during, and slightly after. This guide helps you support a foundation for a strong sibling relationship. This guide does not cover ongoing sibling relationships and struggles as they get older.

  • This guide is inclusive of all family styles. The tools discussed inside can be applied to any situation in which you are welcoming a new child into your home.

  • This guide is meant for individuals that need some structured guidance and are ready to implement tools on their own. There is a section on how to prepare yourself in order to prepare your child(ren). Without knowing everyone's unique situation and needs, I am not able to say that this is the only support you will need. Some individuals may need additional one-to-one support depending on your needs. This is not meant to be a replacement for individual mental health support.