I feel it is very important to involve my three children in preparing for the birth and life changes that will come along with the baby on the way. I have been doing this in several ways. They are 11, 8 and 4. So the older ones understand more than

the youngest but he is just as excited. I am hoping this will help with the transition of bringing another child into the home.  I also think this would work, with some modifications for someone who is adopting a child. 

For starters I told them we were going to have another baby. I explained there is one growing in mommys tummy right now, and if all goes well next spring they will have a baby brother or sister.

I bought a book, of pregnancy stages.  It shows from conception with new pictures every month of the baby in the womb.  If I knew where it was at the moment I would write that in, but the kids had it last so who knows where it is!

I have taken the kids with me to register for the new baby. Letting them pick out items that they think we will need for the baby, and yes sometimes I had to say no, the baby is going to be too little for that, but we can pick that out for a first birthday present.

They are going with me to my next OB visit, where all the midwife will be doing is listening to the babys heartbeat and measuring my tummy, so it is nothing tramatic, or embarasing for them. They also get to sit in on the next sonogram. They are really looking foward to these things.

I have yet to decide if they will be in the room for the birth. My oldest wants to, but we will wait and see.

With my last two children I took the older ones to pick out something for the baby.  They were very proud to have their sibling wearing and using the items they bought.  So I will be doing that again this time, and this is probably the most expensive thing because they have no concept of price! But it is worth it. They told eveyone last time they bought that for their brother.

I have set up a bassinet in the living room, just as with my other children this is a no play zone.  I try to teach them that the bassinet, play yard and crib are areas where they are not to put anything in, or take anything out. It is off limits.  That way the baby will be safe from toys being tossed in, and no one will be climbing on the rails for a peek. So far this worked great with my second and third child.

The last thing a parent wants to do is make the siblings feel left out, and I know with a new baby in the house it is sometimes, well most of the time, hectic.  The newest addition requires alot of attention and I dont want the other kids to feel neglected.  Try spending time with each child alone and let the child have a few minutes of tummy time with the baby, one on one. With you there to supervise of course. Hopefully this will keep resentment at bay.  It is a big adjustment, but it can go smoothly with a bit of planning from the moms and dads.