Time for Advice:: Emma and acclimation to new baby??

So, Emma knows there is a baby in there. Every day she gives her little brother kisses. I think it also helps a lot that she spends time with her little baby cousin that is now 9 months old.

I remember a while back that Donna posted this same type of post and got lots of great feedback on how to acclimate a young child to a new baby. I made lots of mental notes and of course with my pg brain now, I am drawing blanks. I remember something about gift giving. I also saw on discovery health about making sure Emma would be the first acknowledged by people that come to see the new baby so she won't feel left out or less important with new baby around. And I was reading a book and have decided to wait until new baby is 4 months old and on a routine to transition Emma to a toddler bed.

Emma will be in her 21st month when this baby comes. She is a mommas girl for sure and I worry that she will be jealous. Although she is independent she gets jealous if I go on the computer, do dishes, or make dinner and wants my full attention.

I know you guys will have some great advice. Also, are there any good books out there?

TIA Shari

Bailey was 22 months when Bella arrived. LIke Emma she would kiss my tummy, play with friends babies, I even had a baby doll, stroller, changing table and carseat for her so she could be a little Mommy too.

I remember Donna had a present from the baby at the hospital - and when her older son came to visit they had the baby in the nursery and then brought in. I did these things and Bailey has seemed to love Isabella from the start. She wanted to hold her the minute they brought her in - however she was done after like 30 seconds and started yelling SISSY EEEEWWWW!!!! 

Bailey has done well. I make her mommy's little helper. She helps me change her (hands me wipes, diapers and throws out the icky ones), she helps me feed her, (in my lap) she helps me to burp her and pats her back when I do, she is constatnly concered that her binky isn't in her mouth! LOL! She even tries to carry out the carseat when we go places.

While it is CUTE that they kiss your belly and say baby.... not so cute when the baby is born and now 3 months old! LOL! I am like - really - do I still look like it?? :) Nah - she is just programed to think there is a baby in there :)

Good Luck Shari - I am sure it will be just fine!

There are a few good books out there about becoming the big brother/sister.  You mentioned the crib thing... I was just browsing one of my books, a sleep one I think, and saw a good tip.  When you move her out to the toddler bed, wait a few weeks at least (if you can) to move the new baby into it.  Leave it empty, so she's not going to feel ousted as much.  You can even start to talk about how big the new baby is getting and see if you can get her to "come up" with the idea to move the new baby to her old bed that no one is using anyway...   We did the present from the baby and a present TO the baby too.  Whoever is watching her while you're in the hospital can hopefully take her to pick out a present.  Kaden loved his present from Bryson, but he also loved giving his presents too.  I highly recommend the baby out of the room when she comes, I love the idea.  That being said, Kaden walked right by me and into the room looking for his brother when he came to the hospital.  It had been 3 days and I was SO needing a hug from my boy...lol.  Grandma and Grandpa came to the hospital, and we made a HUGE deal about letting Kaden, the new Big Brother be the first one to hold him.  We put him in an armed chair with the boppy from home and I sat on the floor right in front of him.  It was so sweet to see him kiss his baby and you should have seen the look he gave when we wanted to let someone else have a turn...  We also sang happy birthday to Bryson, (he came on the day he was born, but even if she can't, you can still do it the next day or whatever.)  It was a nice connection to what he knew, a song he could sing (practice before hand or have whoever brings her to the hospital practice in the car.  The trip home from the hospital we made sure we were all together in the same car (grandparents followed).  We came home as a family, and when we got in we let Kaden show Bryson all around the house.  We had stashed a few little presents for Kaden away for if someone came with a present for the baby and not for him.  It really wasn't an issue though, as the few people who brought things brought something for Kaden too.  I tried to bring them out at times when he needed a little something special for having to wait patiently or just needed to be reminded he was loved too, in a concrete way.  I read that people put a "nursing" box, of special toys that can only be played with during nursing times.  Even if you're bottle feeding you're going to need something for her to do during those long feedings.  Ok, sorry for rambling.  I hope there was something there that helps!
-Donna