Book Recommendations?

[lls_mutant]

For those of you that have more than one kid...

Anyone have a good recommendation for a child's book about a new baby in the house? I'm looking for something that:

1.) Is happy. Right now, Toby's too young to really think of being jealous or put out (until the baby gets here), and I don't want to put the idea in his head. I'd prefer something celebratory.

2.) Is very simple. Toby's got a very good attention span (sits through The Lorax with no trouble), but I really want him to sort of "get" this. He's 20 months right now.

3.) Preferably (but this isn't a deal breaker) is from the perspective of a little boy?

Also, for those who have more than one kid, and especially those that have them close together, how did you prepare a very young child for a baby coming home? We've told him there's going to be a baby in the house and he's going to have a brother or sister, but he's definitely too young to really get it. (To be honest, we haven't been trying TOO hard yet because there's still 4 months to go, which in toddler time is an eternity. Plus, I want to get him moved before I really start emphasizing it, because I don't want him to feel "pushed out" of his room.)

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

Alas, here we actually had an advantage in terms of preparing MiniPlu: an actual photograph of an actual baby.

But one thing I remember doing was making an effort - where possible - to expose her to other families that had (or were expecting, ahead of us) new babies. (Those were mostly births, not adoptions, but it didn't matter.) That way we had a reference - "You know how Louis just got a baby brother, who came home to live with them? That's what's going to happen to us, too." She'd known the family with one child, then saw when a second one showed up, and we could use that to model what would happen in our house.

I don't know if Howard's the kind that would mind, but maybe consider getting him a baby doll? Then you could show him a little of what it will be like, explaining that it will be a REAL baby, and once Baby 2 shows up, then Toby can play with the doll alongside you, doing the diaper/bottle/whatever you're doing, too.

[minnow-53.livejournal.com]

Also, for those who have more than one kid, and especially those that have them close together, how did you prepare a very young child for a baby coming home?

*hollow laugh* We did the usual stuff, like getting a present for big sister to give baby and so on. But my girl had measles, MMR notwithstanding, when her brother was born, and I was in hospital for a week beforehand, so all the careful preparations got screwed up... My girl was totally freaked out, especially when she found out that she had to share a mother. :( But now the two of them get on great.

I really don't think you can control these things much: it may be better not to go over the top and worry a child too much before the great crisis of siblinghood has even happened. In fact, I sometimes think it would be a good idea to give no warning at all, and just appear with the new baby.

It seems to me that brothers and sisters and brothers and brothers are much more likely to accept a new sibling than sisters and sisters: speaking from personal experience here. But you can't predict, obviously.

[calzamante.livejournal.com]

My kids are four years apart, so it wasn't so much of an issue with us, but we did rely heavily on 'There's a House Inside My Mummy' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theres-House-Inside-Orchard-Picturebooks/dp/1841210684), which was simple, humorous and MiniRuby loved it. And then, when SmallestRuby was born he 'bought' MiniRuby 'You're All My Favourites' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-All-Favourites-Sam-McBratney/dp/0744586607) as a welcome present.

But, yeah, just carry on as you're doing, really. Don't make a big deal of it, but do mention it in conversation, point out babies/toddlers with baby siblings as you see them. I'm sure you realise that no matter how hard you try there will still be displacement and jealousy issues, but you're sensible enough to be able to deal with them.

For now, I'd recommend trying to rest as much as you can and enjoying the peace of just one, 'cause when that second one arrives peace will be in VERY short supply *grin*

Best of luck!