Many siblings can feel abandoned while you are in the hospital with a new baby. During this time be sure to keep in touch as much as you can. The father can really help here!

In the immediate postpartum period (either at the hospital or during the first couple days at home) preschoolers are sometimes a little less “chummy” with mom than usual. Don’t interpret this as rejection but as a sign that the child wants to be reminded that his special place has not been filled by the new baby.

Here are some things you can do the help your older child during this time:

• Give your child some small gifts to open.
• Give your child a nametag that identifies him as an older sibling such as “I’m Jacob, Emily’s Big Brother.” This helps the child feel important and identifies him for the nurses.
• Give your child his or her very own snapshot of the new baby as soon as possible, so he or she can show the picture to friends.
• Take a picture of the older child holding the baby and make sure it is put in a prominent place.
• Tape a photo of your older child (or a picture drawn by the child) to the baby’s crib in the nursery. This makes the child feel important and helps him identify “his” or “her” baby through the nursery window at the hospital.