Page 52 - North State Parent September 2022

Family-centered and individualized maternity care for home or birthcenter deliveries. Care for those who desire a VBAC.
1727 South St., Redding • 530-768-5051 • reddingmidwiferygroup.com
LOOKING FOR PARENTING RESOURCES, WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES?
Get connected with your local
Family Resource Center in Siskiyou County
FREE CLASSES & FAMILY FUN EVENTS OFFERED WEEKLY
Did you know that each year Siskiyou County offers over 200 sessions of free parenting groups, workshops, and classes?
Dunsmuir CRC ..................................... 235-4400 Happy Camp CC .................................... 493-5117 HUB Communities FRC ...................... 459-3481 Mt- Shasta CRC .................................... 926-1400
Scott Valley FRC ................................. 468-2450 Tulelake/Newell FRC .......................... 667-2147 Family & Community RC of Weed .....938-9914 Yreka CRC .................................................. 842-1313
Parenting Newsletter • Trainings for Parents, Caregivers & Professionals Who Support Them
Child Development • Imagination Library • County Home Visiting
Sign up for the Ready4K for pre-K through 3rd grade children. Receive a text message that provides simple, engaging tips for families. Sign-up by texting SISKIYOU to 70138
These programs are supported through generous grants and partnership through Oregon Community Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Siskiyou County HealthandHumanServices, Mental Health Services Act, Siskiyou County Probation, College of the Siskiyou Foster/ Kinship program, Siskiyou County Office of Education, Siskiyou County Probation, Lilliput Adoptive Families support and other partners with First 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission.
Envíe el mensaje SISKIYOU al 70138
first5siskiyou.org
G
RE/MAX Top Properties
(530) 527-2256 605 Main St, Red Bluff (530) 527-1111
52 North State Parent Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 2022/2023 • www.northstateparent.com
Your Tehama County Housing Headquarters
FAMILY LIFE & SUPPORT
Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling
BY SARAH LYONS
Preparing your child to welcome a new sibling is both exciting and challenging. While this can provide your older child with a lifelong friend and playmate, the soon-to-be big sibling may feel reluctant to share the
turf. There are a few simple guidelines for making the transition easier at each stage of adjusting to a newborn in the home.
During pregnancy, put off big changes and spend extra time with your child
Seeing you prepare the nursery and make changes around the house, your child probably doesn’t fully understand what’s going on, and may start to act up.
Put off big changes like potty training or transitioning to a big kid bed. Get a baby doll so you child can practice baby care, read books about families that add a new baby to the house, and spend extra time to assure your child of your love. If the hospital offers an age-appropriate siblings class, sign up and attend.
Stay positive and don’t blame your limitations on the baby or the pregnancy. Don’t promise an instant playmate.
Meeting the baby in the hospital
When your child visits you at the hospital expect them to be off of their routine and possibly out of sorts. Your child may feel scared because they see mom in bed and they may worry you are sick. Some kids will seem aloof or worried, or act up because they are unsure of their surroundings. They may also feel nervous about meeting the baby everyone is excited about.
To make this easier, make sure to greet you child excitedly, give them some undivided attention. Make a big deal about the new baby and the new big sibling. Take lots of photos with them together and help them gently hold the baby without a lot of drama. Have a few items for your child to play with during the visit and make the visit brief so it will be more manageable for your child.
Adjusting to a new family member at home
It is normal for your child to feel left out and jealous, perhaps acting out to get extra attention in both a positive and negative way. It’s normal for your child to have a variety of emotions as they adjust — excitement, joy, and pride but also sadness, frustration, and jealousy. It takes time to adjust to a new family member.
Let them help with baby care (bring a diaper to mom, go get a clean blanket, sing a song to baby), and also make sure to spend time alone with your big kid. Let them know how important they are. Tell them frequently that you love them.
Have some books available to read or toys to play with while you are nursing or busy with baby care. Show them the benefits of being a big kid, such as eating ice cream, playing at the park, watching movies, and staying up later.
Don’t be surprised if your child has some behavior issues. Be patient with their reaction to a new little one in the house and keep your expectations realistic. Things around the house will never be exactly the same as they were before baby came along
Adding another child to the family is a huge transition for any family. In time, things do fall into a routine and you will not remember when your newborn wasn’t part of the family. Your new big sibling will soon adjust to your growing family and develop a pride in a new role as the older sibling. Ó
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