Books and movies to help a child cope with the arrival of a sibling

The arrival of a sibling is a wonderful event in a child's life, but it can also generate a whirlwind of mixed emotions. As psychologist Beatriz González from the Somos Psicólogos clinic in Madrid told us last week, children can feel excitement, fear, insecurity, sadness or jealousy.

Demands for attention and regressive behaviors, such as asking for a pacifier again, tantrums, or bedwetting, are common.

To prepare your child during pregnancy , it is important to involve him or her - preparing his or her room or teaching him or her the care that the little one will need -, practice active and empathetic listening, visit friends and relatives with babies, maintain consistent routines and talk openly about what is to come.

Beatriz González indicates that there are very useful and valuable materials that can help families prepare older siblings for the arrival of their little brothers and sisters . These are the stories and movies that she recommends to Cucamenta.

Stories to wait for the arrival of a younger brother

These are the stories to help you wait for the arrival of a younger sibling, recommended by psychologist Beatriz González.

• You and I. The most beautiful story in the world by Elisenda Roca: “In this story a boy explains to his little brother his thoughts, from when he finds out that he is going to be an older brother, until he sees his little brother and what he feels when he sees him for the first time.”
• Baby Pop by Meritxell Martí: “This is a pop-up book (foldable with paper figures that appear when you open the pages), which tells the story month by month of what happens during pregnancy until the baby is born.”
• I Love You, Little Brother by Christelle Huet-Gomez and Séverine Duchesne: “This is a book that addresses the jealousy that an older brother feels when a new sibling arrives, from a loving and realistic perspective. It aims to help the older brother understand why these fears arise and to explain to him that they are unfounded.”
• Hello, Little Brother , by Robie H. Harris: “This story helps children understand and prepare for the arrival of a new member of the family.”
• What is this belly? by Patricia Martín Pinillos: “This book is aimed at younger children, to explain, with a touch of humour, what it means to wait for and welcome a new child into the family.”

Movies to prepare your child for a new sibling

These two films are very valuable, tender and fun material to address with the little ones the arrival of a younger sibling:

• The Rugrats Movie : “This animated film humorously and sensitively addresses the challenges and joys of bringing a new baby into the family.”
• Zipi and Zape and the Marble Club : “This Spanish film addresses the relationship between siblings and can be a fun way to discuss family dynamics.”

How to involve the older sibling in parenting

Finally, González recommends some tips for involving the older sibling in raising the baby . This will help both strengthen the bond between them and make the older sibling feel valued within the family.

• Give him age-appropriate chores: he can sing songs to calm you down or put you to sleep, bring you diapers to change him, or help him choose his clothes.
• Explain to him how valuable his help is , always from a positive perspective, something that reinforces his role as an older brother and gives him a sense of responsibility.
• Recognize and praise their efforts and contributions – this is key to boosting their self-esteem and showing that you value their participation.
• There should be exclusive time for the older sibling to have special moments with the baby, supervised by an adult. “This can include reading stories to the baby, showing the baby his or her favorite toys, or simply talking to the baby.” This will strengthen the emotional bond and the feeling of closeness.
• Make sure your older child continues to enjoy individual activities that he or she enjoys , without feeling like everything revolves around the new baby. “This helps maintain his or her emotional well-being, while showing him or her that he or she has not lost valuable things because of the arrival of his or her new sibling,” says González.

By following these tips, the whole family can enjoy the arrival of a new sibling. Don't forget to check out our educational toys for babies, from stuffed animals and cuddly toys that can function as attachment objects to teethers and rattles , sensory stimulation toys or products for bath time .