For the grownup

How to prepare a toddler for a new baby

This free Wonder Situations pack is a printable, parent-led story for becoming a big sibling (ages 3–8). Read it during pregnancy, then again in the first weeks, so a young child knows the shape of a growing family: you stay a pair, waiting is a step, crying is how babies talk, and a toddler jealous of a baby is allowed to say so.

What the pack actually walks through

  1. 1.Name the change: a new baby is joining the family. The grownup and child stay a pair even when the baby arrives. The child is still here.
  2. 2.Waiting days can feel long — a belly may grow, or a small space gets ready. Fold a blanket or set a book on a shelf together. Waiting is a step, not a surprise.
  3. 3.The baby is small and loud. Crying is how babies talk; they do not have words yet. The sound can feel big and unfair. The child can cover their ears. The grownup stays close.
  4. 4.Sometimes the grownup has to hold the baby. That can feel like a short goodbye to just-us. Keep the goodbye short, then come back. Take a breath together first.
  5. 5.Kid-sized jobs are real and small if the child wants them: fetch a diaper, sing one song, or rest a gentle hand. Helping is a choice, not a show. No is an okay answer.
  6. 6.The grownup is still their grownup. Love does not run out when a family grows — say it once, plainly. Hard days happen. You do them together.

Practice at home: fold a small blanket, fetch a clean cloth like a diaper, sit close, and take three breaths together. Then practice a short goodbye: grownup holds a stuffed baby, says three words, comes back. Stay a pair. Co-regulate first: hold, breathe, then the next baby-care step. Do not promise "you'll love the baby" — name jealousy, loud crying, waiting, and that you are still their grownup.

Wonder Situations · Transitions

Field-guide scene: New Baby (Big Sibling)

A field-guide story to read together

New Baby (Big Sibling)

A calm, page-by-page story for becoming a big sibling.

Ages 3–8 · During pregnancy, then again in the first weeks after a sibling arrives — short repeat reads, not one big talk.

Page 1 of 6

Field-guide scene: A new baby is coming

A new baby is coming

A new baby is joining our family. Our family is growing. You and I stay a pair — even when the baby arrives. We stay together.

Point together

  • We stay a pair.
  • Big Wonderer stays close.
  • The baby is coming, and you are still here.

Page 2 of 6

Field-guide scene: Waiting days

Waiting days

Some days we wait. A belly may grow, or we get a small space ready. Waiting can feel long. We can fold a blanket or set a book on a shelf together. Waiting is a step, not a surprise.

Point together

  • A blanket we fold together.
  • A small space getting ready.
  • Waiting is a step, not a surprise.

Page 3 of 6

Field-guide scene: Small and loud

Small and loud

The baby is small. Crying is how babies talk — they do not have words yet. The sound can feel big and unfair. You can cover your ears. I stay close.

Point together

  • The baby is small.
  • Crying is a baby voice, not a scold.
  • You can cover your ears.

Page 4 of 6

Field-guide scene: I hold the baby, then I come back

I hold the baby, then I come back

Sometimes I have to hold the baby. That can feel like a short goodbye to just-us. The goodbye is short. Then I come back to you. We take a breath together first.

Point together

  • A short goodbye to just-us.
  • Then we are a pair again.
  • First a breath, then the next step.

Page 5 of 6

Field-guide scene: Kid-sized jobs

Kid-sized jobs

You can help in small real ways if you want: fetch a diaper, sing one song, or rest a gentle hand. Helping is a choice, not a show. No is an okay answer.

Point together

  • A diaper you can fetch.
  • A gentle hand is enough.
  • No is an okay answer.

Page 6 of 6

Field-guide scene: Still your grownup

Still your grownup

I am still your grownup. Love does not run out when a family grows — there is still a place that is yours. Hard days happen. We do them together.

Point together

  • Your grownup stays yours.
  • Love does not run out.
  • We do hard days together.

Keep these pages for you

Grownup pages

Parent script

  • A new baby is coming. You and I stay a pair — even when the baby is here.
  • Waiting days can feel long. We can fold a blanket or ready a space together.
  • Crying is how babies talk. You can cover your ears. I stay close.
  • Sometimes I hold the baby. Short goodbye, then I come back. Helping is a choice.

Try it together

Practice at home: fold a small blanket, fetch a clean cloth like a diaper, sit close, and take three breaths together. Then practice a short goodbye: grownup holds a stuffed baby, says three words, comes back. Do two rounds.

Parent note

Stay a pair. Co-regulate first: hold, breathe, then the next baby-care step. Do not promise "you'll love the baby" — name jealousy, loud crying, waiting, and that you are still their grownup. Keep goodbyes to just-us short, then come back. Kid-sized jobs are a choice, not a performance. Love does not run out; say it once, plainly.

For professionals

Useful sibling-adjustment primer before a new baby arrives — pair with protected one-on-one time and optional, never-forced helping.