When and how shall I tell my child I’m pregnant?
If you’re only a couple of months into your pregnancy, you may not want to say anything. Seven months may as well be 100 years to a child! That’s not to say they won’t notice changes in your body. So it’s probably best to tell them when you’re really starting to show. Say you have a new baby growing inside you. Let them pat your tummy gently and get them to say ‘hello’ to their new brother or sister.
How to help your child prepare
Make the most of the time your child and you currently have, because things are going to be very different in a few months! You also need to start preparing them for when they won’t be able to have all your attention. Make sure your child gets used to being with grandparents, relatives and friends – all the people who will be helping you once the baby arrives.
The trick is to keep things simple but make your child feel special about becoming a big brother or sister. They’ll find it hard to understand what a new baby is all about, so show them what they were like as a baby. If they are old enough to understand, go through photos and videos, talk about when they were born and then tell them that this is what the new baby will be like. Involve them in appointments, talk and read to them about a baby brother or sister. You could take them to an antenatal appointment; their face will probably be an absolute picture when they hear the baby’s heart!