Everything is about to change.

Except your connection.

A step-by-step attachment-based guide to preparing your older child, and yourself, for one of the biggest transitions in your family's life.

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Instant download • 80+ pages • Created by a birth-to-5 mental health specialist

You're preparing to welcome a new baby — which means you already have approximately one million things on your plate.

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.

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There's the grief that comes with your baby not being 'the baby' anymore. There's the excitement of imagining all the fun they'll have together. There's the anxiety of wondering if you have everything prepared. And there's the exhaustion that comes with being pregnant while parenting.

You don't need more to add to your plate. You need a plan that fits into the life you're already living

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 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. 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.

That's exactly why I created this guide. Because preparing your child for a new sibling shouldn't mean adding more to your already full plate. So I built something that fits into the life you're already living.

When you’re honest with yourself,

Learn to prepare your child in routines you already do, instead of adding more to your plate with the guide to

Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling

An 80+ page attachment-based guide with everything you need to prepare your older child — and yourself — for one of the biggest transitions in your family's life. Designed to fit into the routines you're already doing."

Understand how a new sibling may impact your older child's attachment — and how to protect it
Prepare yourself emotionally so you can show up for your older child even in the hard moments
Know exactly what to say to your child at every stage of the pregnancy in words they'll actually understand
Use the routines you're already doing — breakfast, playtime, bedtime — to prepare your child without adding to your plate
Have a vetted book list ready to make sibling prep part of storytime
Know exactly how to prepare your child for your hospital stay so it doesn't feel scary
Navigate the first sibling meeting with confidence
Understand expected responses after baby arrives and know how to support both children
Troubleshoot challenges as they come up without second guessing yourself

Get instant access for $39

Instant download • 80+ pages • Created by a birth-to-5 mental health specialist

Everything you need, in the format that works for you.

Plus an audio version so you can listen while you're driving to appointments, folding baby clothes, or lying on the couch because growing a human is exhausting and sitting down to read isn't always realistic. I see you.

From parents who've been exactly where you are:

“You'll understand WHY the tips work — not just what to do.”

“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.

"My baby is 6 weeks old and my toddler is doing so well."

“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

"A great resource to get your partner on the same page."

“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

A birth-to-5 mental health specialist with a Master of Advanced Study in Infant and Family Practice and a registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator. I've spent my career studying how young children develop, communicate, and regulate, and translating that into something parents can actually use. I created Babies and Brains because I kept seeing the same thing: parents doing everything right but missing the developmental piece that makes their child's behavior make sense. I'm not here to teach you THE way to parent. I'm here to help you understand your child well enough to find your own way.

Hi, I’m Michelle

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. However, the tools you learn in this guide can still be helpful after your baby is already here. 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.

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

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