We just recently welcomed our fourth baby to our family, so this definitely isn’t our first rodeo with siblings. However, there is one special thing we do each pregnancy and I look forward to it every time. The Sibling Class. Hospitals offer them for free and you bring you kiddo(s) who are about to become big siblings. Each class is different, I’m sure, but basically they teach them a little about babies, what to expect and finally show them around where mom and baby will be. It’s really neat for the kids to be able to see what to expect when they visit because the hospital can be scary for a child.
The class that we have always gone to just fills my mama heart and the instructor is the sweetest. They watch a little show, practice swaddling the baby, take a picture holding the baby doll they swaddled (that will then be put in the baby’s crib when it’s born), and finally take the tour of the labor / delivery room and get to see a real life newborn! Our kids were told that they get to hand out the gender specific buttons to visitors and they also get to help with the baby’s footprints!
My husband just rolls his eyes at me because our bigger kids have already taken the class, and he doesn’t think they need a sibling class. But the kids really enjoy it and seeing them get excited about the new baby that is coming is priceless. I always try to wait until four to six weeks before the baby is due to arrive because once they attend class, they are ready for the baby right now.
If you are interested in your kiddo taking the big sibling class, you can find the schedule for Touro here and the schedule for West Jefferson here.