Submitted by Steve (not verified) on July 17, 2008 - 11:10pm.
We have had 10 children and most were born about 19 months apart. Life isn't formulaic but here is something we did intentionally with each. Having a baby is very much a family affair and we involved the little ones as soon as they were ready. We didn't force anything on them but we got excited with them to hold the baby, told them what a good big brother or sister they are, help them find their place as an "older" sibling. Around birth times we did give the older sibling extra attention; it's only natural to feel left out when all the comotion is about the "new baby". We felt very strongly about protecting our children's sense of belonging. I believe they found security in this and didn't feel (as) threatened as they could have. Lots of lovin! Our "kids" are now 14-28 and, though not all live at home, they love spending time with each other.
Having a baby with a 2-year old
We have had 10 children and most were born about 19 months apart. Life isn't formulaic but here is something we did intentionally with each. Having a baby is very much a family affair and we involved the little ones as soon as they were ready. We didn't force anything on them but we got excited with them to hold the baby, told them what a good big brother or sister they are, help them find their place as an "older" sibling. Around birth times we did give the older sibling extra attention; it's only natural to feel left out when all the comotion is about the "new baby". We felt very strongly about protecting our children's sense of belonging. I believe they found security in this and didn't feel (as) threatened as they could have. Lots of lovin! Our "kids" are now 14-28 and, though not all live at home, they love spending time with each other.