Children Make a Present to Welcome a New Baby
How to Stop Sibling Rivalry from the Start
Along with helping to decorate the new baby's nursery and sharing their outgrown furniture with the new baby, children can also begin a lifetime of bonding with their new sibling by crafting a personalized gift for him or her. Instead of allowing older siblings to resent their new younger brother or sister for receiving baby gifts from friends and relatives, or agonizing over whether the older siblings should also receive small gifts to celebrate the arrival of the new baby, get the older kids involved in the giving with some special gifts to the baby of their own.
Presents to a new baby from older siblings need not be expensive or fancy. What matters is that they are heartfelt and foreshadow the personal connection soon to be forged between new sisters and brothers. Thinking up and creating the gift can also be a good way for parents to share some quality one-on-one time with the older sibling before the new baby comes along and diverts parents' attention.
Have Older Siblings Create Art for the Baby's Nursery
One idea is to have the older brother or older sister draw or paint a special picture for the younger one. Children might create pictures of:
- fun activities they would like to do with their new siblings, like taking walks, listening and dancing to music, going to the park, or playing with particular toys.
- favorite interests they would like to introduce to the new baby, such as cars, dinosaurs, fairies, Disney princesses, and so on.
- a family portrait, including the new baby as a special welcome to the family.
- favorite book characters the older sibling is looking forward to telling the sibling about.
Once the picture is done, frame and perhaps even matte it to show how treasured the gift is and then select a special place in the nursery where it will hang.
Have Older Siblings Create a Picture Frame for the New Baby
Another option (which can be combined with the previous idea) is to have the older sibling craft a picture frame. This frame can be a simple construction paper or cardstock cut-out with crayon and glued decorations, or a more elaborate craft stick or clay mosaic creation. A piece of artwork from the child can be placed in the frame, or parents can take a special photograph of the child with his or her new sibling to put in the frame. Again, have children pick a special place in the nursery where the frame will be displayed.
Have Older Siblings Create a Baby Gift Basket
A final option is to have siblings assemble baby girl gift baskets or baby boy gift baskets for the new babies. Some theme ideas for baby gift baskets for a new sibling include:
- things for the new baby to play with, such as small board books or good quality wooden baby rattles and teething rings by brands such as Haba, Selecta, or North Star Toys, or other baby-safe toys that the older sibling thinks the baby will enjoy. The older sibling can donate outgrown items from his or her own bookshelf and toy chest (to promote early sharing) or parents can take the older sibling on a special shopping trip with a modest set budget during which the child can purchase items for the new baby.
- new baby necessities. Parents can invite the older sibling to help put together a basket of toiletries and other supplies the baby will need, such as diapers and burp cloths. Have younger children use markers to decorate the outside of the first disposable diapers the baby will use, and have older children that can sew embroider or otherwise decorate special spit-up cloths for the baby. Children will enjoy picking out (parent-approved) lotions, bubble baths, brushes, and other items for the baby's care.
Once the items for the baskets are gathered, children can be in charge of packing and decorating the baskets. Baby girl gift baskets might be arranged in pink or white baskets or canvas totes and baby boy gift baskets might be arranged in blue or brown baskets or canvas totes. Both can be decorated with tulle or ribbon bows or hung with wooden teething rings and rattles on baby-safe chains.
When a habit of gift-giving has been established between siblings, parents will face less conflict and jealousy between children during future gift-giving times such as holidays and birthdays. Also, having an older sibling create and present a special gift to the baby is a practical way to draw positive attention to the older sibling at a time when he or she might otherwise feel overshadowed.
Older Siblings Can Paint a Picture for a New Baby
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