Another question for STM+

[alayne926]

Did you (or are you going to) do a "big brother/sister" class offered by your hospital?  Mine offers one geared towards only two year olds as a "big sibling prep class." It's $10 for a two hour class.  I thought it would be something fun for him to do and start talking about the baby coming.  We would probably wait until May to do it, so it would still be fresh in his mind.  I'm also liking that since it's at the hospital, we can say, "This is where mommy is going to have baby and you can come meet him/her." That way, he's at least seen the hospital. They take them on a "mini tour" to see the nursery so he would see the other babies.

Thoughts?

[Deleted]

I took DS (8 yo) to one last weekend and he LOVED it. He was mad that it was only one hour long and there are no follow up classes. He asked if he could go to it again. He took it very seriously. Most of the moms there were due in 5-6 weeks. We went early because technically the age cut off is 7, and DS turned 8 in January. We didn't get to do the nursery tour though because it's flu season.

[billyhorrible]

We thought about it. I love the idea, but when I asked me son if he wanted to go to a special "big brother class" he told me he didn't want to go. I told him it would teach him how to be a big brother and he told me he already knows how. He's going to feed the baby milk. Because babies can't eat food, just milk.

[junch817]

I thought about it and wanted to, but when I finally sat down to look at the schedule of classes, there is only one class between now and EDD, and it doesn't work for us. Wish they had more options.

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 11:59:34 GMT -5 junch817 said:

I thought about it and wanted to, but when I finally sat down to look at the schedule of classes, there is only one class between now and EDD, and it doesn't work for us. Wish they had more options.

Oh bummer! Ours has at least two a month between now and EDD.

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 11:56:29 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

We thought about it. I love the idea, but when I asked me son if he wanted to go to a special "big brother class" he told me he didn't want to go. I told him it would teach him how to be a big brother and he told me he already knows how. He's going to feed the baby milk. Because babies can't eat food, just milk.

That is the cutest!

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 11:55:52 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

I took DS (8 yo) to one last weekend and he LOVED it. He was mad that it was only one hour long and there are no follow up classes. He asked if he could go to it again. He took it very seriously. Most of the moms there were due in 5-6 weeks. We went early because technically the age cut off is 7, and DS turned 8 in January. We didn't get to do the nursery tour though because it's flu season.

Great to hear!  

[ladysif]

Sounds adorable and wonderful! Mine doesn't offer it for young kids, which I think is weird. I would have him do it if they had it.

[noeliav]

I guess if DD hadn't shown any excitement or understanding about what is about to occur, I'd consider it. She's already very excited and eager to be involved, though, so I'm not seeking one out. (She'll be about 2.5 y/o when this one arrives)

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 12:19:16 GMT -5 noeliav said:

I guess if DD hadn't shown any excitement or understanding about what is about to occur, I'd consider it. She's already very excited and eager to be involved, though, so I'm not seeking one out. (She'll be about 2.5 y/o when this one arrives)

See...I think that's why I want to do it.  Right now, I don't think he understands that there's going to be a new little person living in our house soon.  I think it will help him get that....I don't know....

[redlipz]

We are not doing it but this is our third. But I do have a suggestion for stm+, when my second was born, my daughter was short of a year and a half and we went ahead and got her a present from the baby. When she came in the the room to meet him I was holding my new son and had the present on my lap. This made is a little easier for her to make the connection that brother was nice and good to her as appose to "he's taking my spot." Though she was a little hesitant at first, she did very quickly fall in love with him. I also made sure to tell whoever came to see the new baby that I needed them to first acknowledge my daughter and if they brought a gift to please have it be for her so she wouldn't feel left out. It really made a difference, especially since she was so little.

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 12:29:52 GMT -5 redlipz said:

We are not doing it but this is our third. But I do have a suggestion for stm+, when my second was born, my daughter was short of a year and a half and we went ahead and got her a present from the baby. When she came in the the room to meet him I was holding my new son and had the present on my lap. This made is a little easier for her to make the connection that brother was nice and good to her as appose to "he's taking my spot." Though she was a little hesitant at first, she did very quickly fall in love with him. I also made sure to tell whoever came to see the new baby that I needed them to first acknowledge my daughter and if they brought a gift to please have it be for her so she wouldn't feel left out. It really made a difference, especially since she was so little.

We are going to get him a "Big Brother Present" for the hospital.  I remember my mom giving my sister and I new barbies when our brother was born (28ish years later) and we thought that was the coolest thing!  

[tiffbot]

I think it sounds nice! And reading everyone's stories are so sweet If baby goes full term DS will be a month under 2 so I can't see him focusing on anything like that, I think he's just going to love the time he gets to spend with my mom and dad then haha. So far he loves other people's babies, I know it will be different but I'm excited to see him meet this one.

[Deleted]

So, if anyone wonders, at ours each of the kids had a newborn sized doll, receiving blanket, diaper, and bottle. The kids sat on the floor with their "babies" and learned how to pick up a baby and hold it, how to change the diaper, how to feed and burp it, and how to wrap them up in a swaddle. They talked a lot about what a new baby does & to never touch the baby without asking mom & dad first. Then they read a book about a new baby coming home and all got surgical masks, hats and gloves, as a souvenir. My observations... the three and four year old who were there couldn't have cared less and had a hard time sitting still but the 5, 7, and my 8 year old were all very attentive and into it. 

[sully326]

I don't think ours offers it, but I'm going to look into it because I think DS would love it!

[Widget123]

Cute idea, so go for it! DD loves babies and understands a lot about them from books, observing other babies, etc. if she was older I would consider something like this.

[ktbear]

The ones I've seen start at 2 years, and DS is only 18 months. I would love it if I could find a class that's geared for younger kids. We got him a big brother book that he loves but I'm not sure he fully understands that he's getting a baby sister yet. My mom says he'll figure it out when we come home with her, but I hoped I could at least prep him a little bit before that point!

[maddib]

Mar 6, 2015 14:29:54 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

So, if anyone wonders, at ours each of the kids had a newborn sized doll, receiving blanket, diaper, and bottle. The kids sat on the floor with their "babies" and learned how to pick up a baby and hold it, how to change the diaper, how to feed and burp it, and how to wrap them up in a swaddle. They talked a lot about what a new baby does & to never touch the baby without asking mom & dad first. Then they read a book about a new baby coming home and all got surgical masks, hats and gloves, as a souvenir. My observations... the three and four year old who were there couldn't have cared less and had a hard time sitting still but the 5, 7, and my 8 year old were all very attentive and into it. 

I need to find a class like this in my are for DD and DS. I think they would really like it. How did you hear about your class? Or did you look around for one?

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2015 22:30:45 GMT -5 maddib said:

Mar 6, 2015 14:29:54 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

So, if anyone wonders, at ours each of the kids had a newborn sized doll, receiving blanket, diaper, and bottle. The kids sat on the floor with their "babies" and learned how to pick up a baby and hold it, how to change the diaper, how to feed and burp it, and how to wrap them up in a swaddle. They talked a lot about what a new baby does & to never touch the baby without asking mom & dad first. Then they read a book about a new baby coming home and all got surgical masks, hats and gloves, as a souvenir. My observations... the three and four year old who were there couldn't have cared less and had a hard time sitting still but the 5, 7, and my 8 year old were all very attentive and into it. 

I need to find a class like this in my are for DD and DS. I think they would really like it. How did you hear about your class? Or did you look around for one?

It was offered at both hospitals our OB works out of, listed with the rest of their childbirth classes

[alayne926]

Mar 6, 2015 22:30:45 GMT -5 maddib said:

Mar 6, 2015 14:29:54 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

So, if anyone wonders, at ours each of the kids had a newborn sized doll, receiving blanket, diaper, and bottle. The kids sat on the floor with their "babies" and learned how to pick up a baby and hold it, how to change the diaper, how to feed and burp it, and how to wrap them up in a swaddle. They talked a lot about what a new baby does & to never touch the baby without asking mom & dad first. Then they read a book about a new baby coming home and all got surgical masks, hats and gloves, as a souvenir. My observations... the three and four year old who were there couldn't have cared less and had a hard time sitting still but the 5, 7, and my 8 year old were all very attentive and into it. 

I need to find a class like this in my are for DD and DS. I think they would really like it. How did you hear about your class? Or did you look around for one?

It was listed on the hospitals website with all of the other classes.