I was very nervous about the birth of my second child. I had heard stories of how the transition from one to two children was much worse than the transition from zero to one. This was hard for me to imagine since my transition from no children to one colicky baby was a rough one. I knew that we would survive whatever was thrown our way, but part of me dreaded the new baby’s first year and having to transition to two kids!
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I saw friends struggle through the transition. I was one of the last ones in our circle of mom friends to join the Mom of Two Club. This meant that everyone else already had their hands full with their own children, and wouldn’t be able to help me much with my own transition. It also meant that I heard their difficulties and worried about what we might be up against.
Luckily, it also meant that I could watch and learn. I could see what worked, what didn’t, and how quickly things seemed to get easier.
And eventually, I was blessed with a baby who did not have colic AND was much happier than my first. I also had an independent three year old who has a soft spot for the baby, and took pride in his job as a brother 🙂
I understand that all situations are different. But here are 3 things that helped us with our transition to two kids, and I hope that they help you as well:
1. Don’t Ooo & Ahh Over Baby
Babies love and desire attention. They are adorable and perfect, and don’t get on your nerves as much as a toddler can. However, they do not understand when you tell them that they are beautiful, or perfect, or cute, or amazing. But their big sibling definitely understands.
I made an effort not to praise the new baby too much while big brother was around. And if I did, I included my older son – “Isn’t your little brother so cute?” “I have such sweet boys!”
Of course, I always made sure that baby felt loved. And when big brother wasn’t around, I gushed about how perfect he was. But it was important not to make my first son feel like he was completely dethroned and now second best.
2. Don’t Push First Sibling Aside
Life gets much busier when you transition to two kids. Days fly by in a whirlwind of feedings, naps, and diapers. There are dirty dishes, laundry, and vacuuming to be done.
The first child can get lost in the chaos because they are more self sufficient. They might not get attention from mommy because the load of poop stained onesies needs washed.
But it is important to give that first child plenty of one on one attention. I tried my best to ignore other responsibilities and spend one-on-one time with big brother while little brother was sleeping. We had a lot of quality time playing games, coloring, doing puzzles, and just playing while the baby slept.
3. Emphasize Big Sibling’s Role
Your first child has a huge role in their baby sibling’s life. They are role models, care takers, play mates, and teachers.
You, of course, don’t want to force your child into a role of taking care of their sibling unwillingly. But you should help them build that sibling bond, and encourage them to be a helper. They can grab diapers for you, they can bring snacks for everyone to share, and they can play peek a boo with the baby while you make them lunch.
You are the parent. But the older sibling deserves responsibility in caring for their new baby too. My son loved this role, and it made him feel that he was still a very important part of the family. He takes his job as big brother seriously, and he is wonderful at it!
Transition to Two Kids
The transition will never be perfectly smooth. There will always be mommy guilt and sibling rivalry. But having two children opens up the doors for new relationships and growth for every person in the family. And it can all be an incredible experience!
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