How to Prepare Your Toddler for a New Baby
For the mama whose heart is stretching to make room for two. 💛
Expecting your second baby? It’s a mix of all the emotions—excitement, love, a little worry, and maybe even a touch of guilt. You know your heart will grow to love both of your babies endlessly, but you can’t help but wonder: How will my firstborn react? Will they be excited? Jealous? Totally indifferent until baby starts touching their toys? The truth is—probably a little bit of everything (and that’s okay).
The good news? There are simple ways to help your toddler adjust so they feel just as special as ever when their little sibling arrives - trust me, I've been there and my two boys, who are 21 months apart, are now best friends forever. It did take a little bit of adjusting for all of us but these few things below are what really helped us prep our toddler for baby's arrival:
1. Talk About the Baby in an Age-Appropriate Way
Your toddler may not fully understand what’s happening, but bringing them into the conversation early can help them feel included.
✨ Make it part of daily life. Let them say goodnight to your belly, feel the baby kick, or chat about what babies do (spoiler: mostly sleep, eat, and cry).
✨ Use books. There are so many sweet picture books about becoming a big sibling—perfect for showing them what’s to come in a fun, simple way.
✨ Let them take on the “big sibling” role. Even little things—like calling them the “best big brother/sister ever” when they kiss your belly—help them feel important.
(Pro tip: Avoid phrases like “You’ll have to share mommy soon!”—keep it positive and reassuring instead.)
2. Involve Them in Preparations
Nothing makes a toddler feel on top of the world like being given a special job.
💛 Let them pick out a baby outfit. (Warning: They might choose something hilariously impractical, and that’s okay.)
💛 Have them help “decorate” the nursery—let them put a stuffed animal in baby’s crib or stick some wall decals on.
💛 Create a “big sibling” kit—maybe a special book, a toy, and a little gift “from” the baby.
When they feel like they are part of the process, the transition feels less like “everything is changing” and more like “I get to be a big sibling—this is exciting!”
3. Set Realistic Expectations
Here’s the thing: Your toddler will have feelings about this. Some days they’ll be obsessed with the baby. Some days they’ll act like nothing’s changed. And some days, they’ll meltdown over things like “the baby looked at my snack.”
It’s normal. It’s developmentally appropriate. And it doesn’t mean they won’t love their sibling.
To help them adjust:
👶 Practice with a doll or stuffed animal. Show them how to be gentle, how babies cry, and how they can “help” (like handing you a diaper).
❤️ Acknowledge all their emotions. Instead of saying, “Don’t be jealous,” try “It’s okay if you feel a little sad or mad sometimes. Mommy always has hugs for you.”
✨ Give them one-on-one time. Even 10-15 minutes of undivided attention can make a world of difference. This was actually the hardest thing to consistently do every day - it's just hard when there's two of them, only one of you and you have needs as well.
(And if things get messy? Deep breaths. Extra cuddles. It’ll all be okay.)
4. Capture This Transition with a Family Maternity Session
One of the most beautiful ways to help your toddler feel included? A maternity session that celebrates both of your babies.
Instead of just focusing on your belly, a family maternity session is about documenting your family as it is right now—before life changes again.
💛 Let your toddler snuggle up with you, kiss your belly, and play while we capture the joy, the love, and the big emotions of this chapter.
💛 No stiff poses—just relaxed, real moments of you soaking in this fleeting time with your firstborn before baby arrives.
💛 This way, when they look back at the photos, they won’t just see “when mommy was pregnant.” They’ll see themselves being loved, cherished, and part of the story.
(Because they are. Always.)
Bringing a new baby home is a huge change—for everyone. But here’s the thing: Love just multiplies and your capacity will grow with every new baby.
Your toddler will adjust in their own way and in their own time. And one day (maybe not right away, but soon), you’ll see them holding their sibling’s tiny hand or making them giggle, and you’ll know—this is exactly how it was meant to be.
💛 If you’d love to document this in a way that feels natural, playful, and full of connection, let’s chat about a family maternity session. Because these moments? They deserve to be held onto.
