Top Tips: Best Reads to Prepare Children for a

Sibling

 

In September 2016, parenting author and educator Maggie Dent put a

post on Facebook about the best reads to prepare children for a sibling.

DISCLAIMER: These tips are shared from our Facebook community –

please do your own research when making choices for your family. Also

please note we have left people’s entries largely unedited so there will be

imperfections in grammar and spelling.

 

The original Facebook post:

Maggie Dent

What is the best book/resource you've found to help prepare your first child for the arrival of a new sibling and explaining conception to very young kids? Many of you probably remember 'Where Did I Come From?" (1977) was the go-to book. But what's yours been? We often get parents writing in asking for recommendations so we'd love to draw on the wisdom of our FB community and hear what you think... over to you. Here is a list of the books mentioned and discussed in the Facebook comments that follow:

• Hello Baby by Jenni Overend • Mummy Laid Nn Egg by Babette Cole • My New Baby by Rachel Fuller • On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott • I’m A Big Brother by Joanne Cole • Za Za’s Baby Brother by Lucy Cousins • The Amazing True Story Of How Babies Are Made by Fiona Katauskas • Where Willy Went by Nicholas Allen • Happy Birth Day! by Robie H. Harris • It’s NOT The Stork by Robie H. Harris • Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle • Hey Hippopotamus, Do Babies Eat Cake too? By Hazel Edwards • There’s A House Inside My Mummy by Giles Andreae • You’re A Big Brother by David Bedford • Everybody Has A Belly Button by Laurence Pringle • The New Baby by Mercer Mayer • The Not So Perfect Baby by Nicole Baxter

Other suggested resources include:

• Making your own photo book of your previous babies’ early days • More Kids Less Stress by Karen Menzies • Toddler Tactics by Pink McKay (holds a useful chapter)

 

Responses

Kathryn Gale This one is amazing! So so good: The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made by Fiona Katauskas. I highly recommend it! It covers all the basics with confident honesty, appropriate pictures and some humour to help nervous parents. Includes tiny snippets on same sex couples, ivf, c-births, premature babies and breastfeeding, just enough to start a conversation if those topics have not yet arisen in your child's life. Replies:

Fiona Telford Yes! And you can pick bits and pieces that answer particular questions, or miss any bits that you don't feel your child (or you) is quite ready for. Definitely second this recommendation. Sharna Distefano What sort of age group would this be good for? Kathryn Gale A pretty wide age range I'd guess. 3yo to pre-teens. It covers puberty nicely, in a matter-of-fact way. As Fiona said above, you can para-phrase or skip bits that littlies aren't ready for. And for older kids, well, it has funny bits and it's cartoon drawings which helps make it an easy, comfortable read if they/their parents are new to the conversation. I'd say it's a great book for a family to own from 2-3 years old onwards. Then there's no big revelation having 'the talk', it's just one of many books on the shelf, that they come to know in a deeper way each time they read it at different ages, as they're ready. Marisa Taing Yes I agree, just bought it last week Sam Langley We have this book an its great. Highly recommend.

Liz Cooksey There's a house inside my mummy. Catchy tune and lovely pictures. We read it all the time before the birth of our second child. I think it really helped the little lady prepare, as best as we all can, for the birth of her little brother. Reply:

Lui Lu I read it definitely a favourite of mine!

         

 

Chantelle Rouge House inside my mummy is good for kids that are a bit older as it's not targeted towards kids that are 2 or under. Worked well for my 3yo. Reply:

Jessica McGrath It makes a pregnancy hormonal mother cry every time she reads it!

Leah Menner You’re A Big Brother. I have a 22 month gap, so this book was wonderful when baby was a few months old and toddler was just over 2. We still read it all the time now as he understands and can relate! It was given as a gift but I believe it was from Kmart - I've got a few others but this one is the favourite Replies:

Belinda Mai We have the girl version of this too. Also there's a house inside my mummy like some other peeps have mentioned. Didn't really hit home or understand the book until way after number 2 was born though Leah Menner Yeah there's a house inside my mummy wasn't that great for us.. Might make sense for the next baby haha Kellie Lamond My daughter loved the girl version too! She still loves me reading it!

Emma Johnson I had a book called 'There's a house in mummy's tummy' for my 2 year old when I was pregnant. At first he just liked the page where the little boy was playing with a train. But as time went on he seemed to understand what was going to happen. He has had no troubles adjusting to life as a big brother! Maha White More Kids Less Stress is a little book of wisdom for mums from a mum who has been there! My friend wrote a book about becoming a mum of 2 with some great little tips and tricks: https://www.amazon.com.au/More-Kids-Less.../dp/B018YNJ5LO Kylie King We did get 'where did I come from' to read to my then 4 year old who had a very inquisitive mind. All I can say is WHOA that book is actually quite full on. We got half way before he closed it saying that he'd heard enough! Job done I guess!?  Jewels Horgan I was given a present of Za Za's Baby Brother, it was a huge hit, we read it several times a day, Author Lucy Cousins. I love her.

 

Emma Beckley We always loved the book Hello Baby by Jenni Overend and beautifully illustrated by Julie Vivas when mine were getting ready for new siblings. Reply:

Emily Douglas Beautiful, beautiful book!!!

Amanda Carlson "On Mother's Lap" by Ann Herbert Scott is a wonderful book for preparing an older sibling for the arrival of a baby. "There is always room on mother's lap..." Caroline Smith 'Where Willy Went' by Nicholas Allen. Very simple & funny story that explains without going into vivid detail. Good for young children. Danika Taylor There's a house inside my mummy Replies:

Sarah Hession This was my fave Yvette Gillam This was great for my then 2.5yo. Raschelle Martindale Definitely the best book!!! Lui Lu This is a great story I got from the library

Monique Syred 'There's a House Inside my Mummy' and this one: 'The New Baby' is great for what you can and can't do with a baby! Jennifer Jury Babette Cole has a range of great books from conception to puberty!!! Reply:

Alicia Cambridge I thought this was good too, BUT there was near hysterical laughter from my kids at the totally unnecessary double page illustrating positions mummy and daddy might be in. My five year old actually asked if we used the position where I was kicked ?!?!! What??? Stick those pages together and it's all good

 

 

Elisabeth Purnamasari Glen It’s NOT The Stork. This one just arrived today. So we'll see how it goes soon Karen Mummery Pinky McKay's Toddler Tactics has a great chapter on preparing a toddler for a new sibling Kerry Davies My new baby has worked for my 2 year old, well so far... Katie Endersbee There's a House inside my mummy (which has been mentioned already) is a gorgeous book I also love "Hey Hippopotamus, do babies eat cake too?" https://penguin.com.au/.../hey-hippopotamus-do-babies-eat... Amy Kathleen Ryan 'Where willy went', 'happy birth day' (pictures are beautiful) and 'mummy laid an egg' Alicia Hitchcock The not so perfect baby. I cant remember the author. I bought this book for my son when i was pregnant with my daughter. Hayley Williams I’M A BIG BROTHER by Joanne Cole Reply:

Rhiannon Connelly We had this one two it's cute and he loved it

Sarah Burt My New Baby by Rachel fuller Sonya Jones Za Za’s Baby Brother by Lucy Cousins. This one was a winner at our place! (Not a 'resource book' more a tale of Za Za being introduced to the reality of a new baby brother...) Wanda Koops There’s A House Inside My Mummy. https://g.co/kgs/npf1k5 This was great for my son who turned 3 just before his brother was born. He also loved the model in the obstetrician’s office that she used to show how baby was positioned/would be delivered. He used to go and deliver the baby while I was having my ultrasound check.

 

Maggie Dentquietly improving lives

www.maggiedent.com

Tanya Regan I made a little photobook of my first son's first few weeks... to show him what life is like with a new baby so he knew what to expect... and to reinforce how loved he is. It cost $8 on Snapfish and he loves it. I let him do what he wants with it. Anna McDonald Everybody has a bellybutton is great. Michelle Jones https://www.amazon.com/Mummy-Laid-Egg.../dp/0099299119. Babette Cole is just brilliant

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