Those with toddlers-how are you trying to explain a baby is on the way?!

[Yo_Yo]

Dd2 is 2.4 months, and I do tell her there's a baby in my tummy. Sje has started noticing babies in general more, but it's hard for her to comprehend.

Those with toddlers-how are you trying to explain pregnancy and that a new baby will be coming?

 

[EmzyJA]

My daughter is three so think she has a greater understanding at her age. I just told her there's a baby in my tummy that will grow and make my tummy really big, then in a long time when it's ready it'll come out. I've tried to explain that the baby will be here all the time with us once it's born but I think that idea is a bit more difficult for her to understand at the moment. She's saying she will help me look after the baby etc. so I do think she understands to some degree. It's not the easiest thing to explain to a child but I think where my cat had kittens she kind of understands a bit from that.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

When 2nd came my first was 2 weeks off turning 2, she never fully got it. Just kept mentioning it then did whole buy pressie for baby and she was happy to receive the pressie back when her sister arrived all was great from day she came home.

 

[Rickles]

It's weird, I don't think DD really gets it, but she has started *changing* her dog and offering him milk

We've looked at cute videos of newborns on youtube and talked about gently stroking them... she now points out "Babas"

But if I say I have one in my tummy, she rubs her tummy xx

 

[Mrsturner]

My son is 2 and half and he knows there's a baby in my tummy. He strokes my tummy and says "arrrrrr baby" but he now thinks everyone has a baby in their tummies too! He kind of understands it but when I say about his baby sister living with us he says no. I guess he'll only really understand it when she's here.
My HV said I should buy a dolly for him to play with and feed etc and learn to be gentle with. I might do that nearer the time x

 

[Bex84]

My daughter picked up on it before i tested. She kisses my stomach and says hello baby. We havent gone in to great detail. My neighbour has just had a baby and i say we will have a baby soon. She already plays with her dollies gently. I am going to get a carrier for her so she has one for her baby to. She loves the babies as baby and toddler and i have involved her in picking babies clothes and presents which she loves. She has been to all my scans and she has felt baby kick. Im not sure how much she gets but she knows baby is in my tummy. I dont go on all the time as i dont want it to be a huge deal or seen as something stressful

 

[Lau88]

My lo will be just turning 3 when baby's born in october (her bday is 2days before due date) she would fully understand if i told her now but really im going to wait until a week or so before. I really don't want to hear whens the baby coming constantly until mid october.

 

[jessieJ24]

I *think* my son understands that there is a baby in my belly, he will lay with me and kiss and rub my belly saying Hi baby!! But I dont think he understands it will be joining our family in a few months lol

 

[ljo1984]

I've told both mine from 7 weeks there's a baby in mummy's tummy and my youngest who is same age as yours gets it, she's always cuddling and kissing the bump

 

[mrspeanut]

When my ds2 was born, ds1 was 2yrs 4mths old. We had told him from 12 weeks that there was a baby growing in mummy's tummy and he'd be his little brother (when we found that out) and we left it at that until closer to my due date. He didn't seem to think much about it. A couple of weeks before we got the book Topsy and Tim The New Baby and we read that a few times together at bedtime and I answered any questions he had. He seemed to 'get it' and was very happy and excited when ds2 arrived

 

[donnalou]

My DD is 2 years and 4 months and she pretty much understands, she knows that there is a baby in my tummy, she calls the spare room her sister's room, asks what we are going to call her sister and then says " how about Peppa" etc, she has told me she is gonna to teach her sister how to jump in puddles and how to build a tower and this morning she told me that she is going to share all her toys with her sister. Yes she talks really well! but I constantly talk to her about everything

 

[chipsticks]

My LO is 2 yrs 1 month and doesn't get it at all. If we talk about it and I ask her where's the baby she runs to the mirror and kisses herself! Maybe she'll get it closer to October!

 

[lauraemily17]

We've spoke to my lo about it from quite early. Initially just about the baby in my tummy and he happily kisses my tummy and strokes it when asked where the baby is. Recently he's started showing lots more interest when he sees other babies and now cradles his teddy and refers to him as a baby. I'm now talking to him more about cuddling & kissing his baby brother and helping to look after him, he seems really interested and excited. I still don't think he really understands the implications but I hope I'm lessening the shock for him when baby arrives!!

 

[shmunster]

My son is 4.5 so has a bit better understanding, though with understanding also comes resistance! He calls it his baby and was most upset when we found out its a girl!

Just recently he's started carrying one of his soft toys like a baby and telling us to be quiet when it's asleep and wrapping it up lol, it's a bit cute!

We told him after the 12 weeks scan but before we openly told people, I didn't want to have to explain it if something had gone wrong

 

[hello_kitty]

My son is 18 months and has no clue that I am carrying a baby. He cant even talk yet! So its hard to try to explain anything to him at this point. My sister has a 4 month old and we were at her house to visit less than a month ago. I was holding the baby and tried to show him and said "see, you're gonna get one soon". Of course he didnt understand what I was saying and tried to pull the baby's hair at that moment I thougt to myself "ok, its useless, maybe he'll understand once I go on having my third" lol.

 

[x_Rainbow_x]

I just told her she's going to be a big sister, and explained what a baby was and she's took to it like a duck to water. Asks everyday when her brother is coming so she can look after him, and help mummy.
Couldn't have took it better. She is exceptionally switched on for 2

 

[capricorn1]

Hi everyone,

Really great thread! I have a 3 year old who is baby obsessed - she calls her 2 baby dolls her 'sisters' and spends a lot of time dressing and playing with them. We bought her a baby doll when we were found out we were expecting number 2 - so I would definitely recommend it (we didn't tell her I was expecting though - we decided to wait until she noticed herself and started to ask questions).

Unfortunately, we lost our 2nd at 20 weeks. DD1 was 2.5 at the time and she wasn't really aware of what happened thank goodness. I am now 21 weeks and as DD1 is a bit older so is much more aware and as I'm bigger this time it's more obvious to other people and I'm sure it won't be long until someone in the street comments on her getting a baby sister/brother etc... She was asking her teddy the other day if there was a baby in his belly so she does have a certain amount of knowledge (for nursery one of her old carers has just had a baby).

I'm just wary about telling her with our history..... am I being silly?? At what point would you tell if you had a similar history? I'm not at all worried about her reaction - she will be over the moon - I'm just worried about it all going wrong again and having to tell her and for her to be hurting iykwim.

Sorry this has turned into a book .... thanks for reading
xxx