Helping Your Toddler + Kiddos Welcome a New Baby

How to ease the transition for your existing children when bringing home a new baby. 

Here are some ways to help you create that safe space for your toddler, and some ways to make your life easier when the baby is here. 

Let’s get started!

Easy access snack station for toddler. Create a bin or area where your toddler can easily help themselves to some healthy snacks throughout the day or whenever they’re allowed. We use a door shoe rack for ours!

Have your toddler pick a present out for baby. Make a date of it and have your toddler pick it out and help wrap it up. Also, you get to enjoy yourself a target trip- you’re welcome. 🤩

Have “baby give toddler a present” too! A welcoming gift from baby can help ease transition and start their relationship off to a positive start. 

Special toys bin for toddler while nursing. Create a box or bin of “special” toys or activities that your toddler can only use during times you are feeding baby. This can be some of the hardest times when you can’t give them your full attention. So make sure to put some independent activities that don’t require too much full supervision on your part. Here’s what ours looks like!

Baby wear as much as possible! This will help tremendously and will give you both of your hands for your toddler. Baby wear on walks, outside, around the house! Our favorite wraps are Moby wraps and our Ergo embrace wrap! 

Give toddler “jobs” as much as possible to help with baby! i.e: grabbing diapers, helping hold bottle, getting wipes, helping pick out babies outfits, getting mama water, reading to baby. There is so much they can help with!

Create a toddler “chore list” to help make your mornings/evenings smoother. We created this check off chart to help ease our mornings! Create your own or look on Etsy for some really cute ones.

Talk about baby’s arrival, being a big sibling and what changes may be coming, how/if they are going to help in different ways- often!! Read books on the subject as much as possible so that they get familiar talking about it.

Don’t make any “big changes” 3 months before or 3 months after baby arrives. For example: potty training, moving to toddler bed, starting daycares/schools, etc. 

Carve out some time daily to have one on one time with your toddler, especially once baby is here. Even if that just means a walk together, coloring together, reading some books, cuddling and watching tv on the couch. Spend that quality time with them still, even when your hands are full with a newborn. And soak up that quality time with them now if baby isn’t here yet!

Meal prep freezer meals and snacks for you and easy meals for toddler to help make your life easier! See my blog post here for some ideas! 

This is a big one!! Introducing the baby in a neutral space. Meaning, baby is not in your arms the first time they are meeting. Instead, have your toddler meet baby while the baby is in a car seat or swing. They can get a sense of jealousy/resentment if you are already holding baby and taking their full attention. Have them greet baby in a neutral space. 

Now, I am not an expert on this stuff whatsoever. This is also my first time as a mama of two (almost!) but after talking to many mamas about tips and advice, this is everything I’ve compiled! I hope these tips have helped you, like they’ve helped me.

Lastly…

HAVE PATIENCE, TAKE DEEP BREATHS, & CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK.

You are doing your best job, and this shit is hard! Remember that this is only a very small phase of life- and the hard stuff WILL pass. Do what you need to survive now, take care of yourself, and make time for just YOU.  Soon, you won’t remember what life was like without two kiddos and you will be a seasoned pro!

You’ve got this, mama.

Mama’s of 2+

Leave a comment of other helpful tips you have below!