[Submitted Question]

We thought we had prepared our five year old daughter well for the new baby's arrival. At first she seemed okay but after we had been home from the hospital for a couple of days she looked at her little brother and said: Can we send him back now? Did we not prepare her enough after all? What should we do now?

[WombToBloom]

The idea of bring a baby home and the reality of bringing a baby home are REALLY different – or hadn’t you noticed?! You probably prepared your daughter just fine for her new brother’s arrival. She just didn’t have the capacity to fully understand it. And she certainly didn’t realize how much of your time and attention that baby was going to take.

I would just explain to her that he’s your baby and her brother and he’s going to live with you now. Explain that he’s just a little baby and needs everyone’s help with everything. Unlike big sister who can do lots of things by herself because she’s so big. Ask her to be a helper if she’s interested. And if she’s not interested, don’t push it. Life will start to get back to “normal” soon and she’ll go with the flow. Five year olds do that. But do make some time for mommy-daughter moments or outings. Snuggle with her and read books when the baby sleeps. Ask her if she wants to go to the nail salon with you and have her toenails painted. Take her out for a special pizza lunch – just the two of you. Or better yet, get Daddy to come too.

It will all work out fine. It’s a big transition for everyone – especially the one who didn’t know what all was included in the package!

[noel0077]

No need to worry about that she is just not happy for a while and i suggest you to spend most of the time with her along with your new born baby in front of her and i hope she will be soon accept her as her little sister.