Think about it:
Before the baby entered your family, your toddler was told he'd have a
wonderful little brother to play with, and how much fun it would be. Then the
little brother is born and your toddler is thinking, "Are you kidding me? This squirming, red-faced baby that takes up all
your time and attention is supposed to be FUN?" He then "plays" with the
baby in the only ways he knows how. He plays catch. You yell at him for
throwing toys at the baby. He plays hide-and-seek. You yell at him to get the
blanket off the baby. He gives the kid a hug, and you admonish him to be more
careful. Is it any wonder that your toddler is confused?
Teach:
Your first goal is to protect the baby. Your second, to teach your older child
how to interact with his new sibling in proper ways. You can teach your toddler
how to play with the baby in the same way you teach him anything else. Talk to
him, demonstrate, guide and encourage. Until you feel confident that you've
achieved your second goal, however, do not leave the children alone together.
Yes, I know. It isn't convenient. But it is necessary, maybe even critical.
Hover:
Whenever the children are together, "hover" close by. If you see your child
about to get rough, pick up the baby and distract the older sibling with a
song, a toy, an activity or a snack. This action protects the baby while
helping you avoid a constant string of "Nos," which may actually encourage the
aggressive behavior.
Teach soft touches:
Teach the older sibling how to give the baby a back rub. Tell how this kind of
touching calms the baby, and praise the older child for a job well done. This
lesson teaches the child how to be physical with the baby in a positive way.
Act quickly:
Every time you see your child hit, or act roughly with the baby, act quickly.
You might firmly announce, "No hitting, time out." Place the child in a
time-out chair with the statement, "You can get up when you can use your hands
in the right way." Allow him to get right up if he wants - as long as he is
careful and gentle with the baby. This isn't punishment, after all. It's just
helping him learn that rough actions aren't going to be permitted.
Demonstrate: Children learn what they
live. Your older child will be watching as you handle the baby and learning
from your actions. You are your child's most important teacher. You are
demonstrating in everything you do, and your child will learn most from
watching you.
Praise:
Whenever you see the older child touching the baby gently, make a positive
comment. Make a big fuss about the important "older brother." Hug and kiss your
older child and tell him how proud you are.
Watch your words: Don't blame everything on the baby. "We can't go to the park; the baby's sleeping." "Be quiet, you'll
wake the baby." "After I change the baby I'll help you." At this point,
your child would just as soon sell the
baby! Instead, use alternate reasons. "My
hands are busy now." "We'll go after lunch." "I'll help you in three minutes."
Be supportive: Acknowledge your child's
unspoken feelings, such as "Things sure
have changed with the new baby here. It's going to take us all some time to get
used to this." Keep your comments mild and general. Don't say, "I bet you hate
the new baby." Instead, say, "It must
be hard to have Mommy spending so much time with the baby." or "I bet you wish we could go to the park
now, and not have to wait for the baby to wake up." When your child knows
that you understand her feelings, she'll have less need to act up to get your
attention.
Give extra love:
Increase your little demonstrations of love for your child. Say extra I love
yous, increase your daily dose of hugs, and find time to read a book or play a
game. Temporary regressions or behavior problems are normal, and can be eased
with an extra dose of time and attention.
Get 'em involved:
Teach the older sibling how to be helpful with the baby or how to entertain the
baby. Let the older sibling open the baby gifts and use the camera to take
pictures of the baby. Teach him how to put the baby's socks on. Let him
sprinkle the powder. Praise and encourage whenever possible.
Making each feel special:
Avoid comparing siblings, even about seemingly innocent topics such as birth
weight, when each first crawled or walked, or who had more hair! Children can
interpret these comments as criticisms.
Take a deep breath
and be calm. This is a time of adjustment for everyone
in the family. Reduce outside activities, relax your housekeeping standards,
and focus on your current priority, adjusting to your new family size.
Excerpted with permission by
NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group Inc. from Perfect Parenting, The Dictionary
of 1,000 Parenting Tips by Elizabeth Pantley, copyright 1999
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth
