How do you explain this one?

We're now six weeks away from my due date and for us this pregnancy has flown past in a haze of housework, new experiences (like school), work and general life happenings that has meant we haven’t had time to be all doe-eyed and apprehensive about the new baby’s arrival. Findlay is very aware of what’s going to happen having experienced it last year with Nairn’s birth. Nairn is completely clueless.

Explaining the arrival of a new sibling gets a lot easier when your child is physically and mentally capable of understanding the concept. We thought we had Findlay well prepared prior to Nairn being born: we had the handily wrapped present brought by his new baby brother (clever child managed a trip to Toys R Us prior to his womb emergence), he had accompanied us to several scans where he got to see his baby brother and yet when he came to see us for the first time the only way I can describe his facial expression was crestfallen. Luckily the toy bus presented by his new brother seemed to cheer him up in rapid fashion.

How do you explain to a one year old child that they’re not going to be the baby anymore? Nairn attends nursery so is used to other babies being around, and he is fondly acquainted with the NevaliKitten, Brodie (he loves her so much, he tries to embed toy cars into her skull) but socialising is far different to living with one and to be honest it’s our main concern right now. We don’t have the answer.

Hopefully we’ll find it before D-day.

[djbarry]

You don't need to explain everything as a parent. He won't understand and he'll forget quickly. Do you have any memories from when you were 1? You do the usual, don't ignore him, include him, make him feel he's still a baby, use the double pram a lot, but don't waste time and emotions trying to explain anything.

[Fenntastic]

he wont grasp it at his age so there is no point at all in trying to explain it. but let him know theres a baby in your tummy, and keep him included in stuff. however anything you tell him will probably be forgotton by the next day so i wouldnt worry about trying to explain stuff to him in depth