When you think on terms of expanding the family, many doubts come to your mind like, “Will the first child be able to accept the new one?” “Will you have quality time for each other as a couple after two children?” There are many more doubts that often surround your mind especially in concern with your first child. Following are some tips to deal with the pressure that come from expanding the family.

BREAKING THE NEWS TO YOUR ELDER ONE
Share the news with your child. Tell her/him that a baby is growing in your tummy. A baby whom he could play with, and him feel the kicks of tiny feet. Don’t promise a boy or girl if you don’t know the sex. Refer to the unborn baby as ‘Small Baby’ instead.
Prepare your child for the changes which might happen when the second child comes like moving your first child from the cot to a bed by telling him that this was a graduation into Big Boyhood. The baby would sleep in his cot and they would both share a room, with a Baby Monitor for you to keep tabs on them.

Let your child help to pack the hospital bag. If your child is not used to being cared for by others, now is a good time to leave him or her with grandparents, domestic help or a neighbor occasionally.

TIME TO COME HOME
The hustle-bustle surrounding a new baby can make the older child feel left out, disoriented and even irritated. In the beginning concentrate more on the older child, because the baby sleeps three quarters of the day. Spend one-to-one time each day with the children. Yet do not be afraid to show affection to the baby. You can expect behavior to swing from helpful and affectionate to down-right defiant and aggressive. Be comforting during the period of adjustment, but set reasonable limits. Many children react to a baby’s arrival by wanting to be a baby again. He wants a breast/pacifier/bottle. She wets her panties/bed. Carry him. Undress him. Sit him on your lap till he is bored. Casually remove a thumb from the mouth.  If your elder child wants a taste of breast milk, give her a hug, laugh and say: “You can eat cake and ice cream, pizza and French fries, but Baby can only drink my milk.”

INSECURITY FACTOR
Wise parents also don’t ignore the jealousy, forcibly suppress it or shame the child, but help the feelings of affection to bubble forth. When a child attacks a baby, you need to protect the baby, to show your child that he will not be allowed to harm the baby, but that you still love him despite his angry feelings. Give him the opportunity to vent them and release energy by bashing up a cushion or running around the compound. Scold a child who deliberately makes a mess, but try to figure out why he did it and reassure him. Accepting a little stranger may be difficult at first, but given time and understanding, your child will not only adjust to, but will enjoy his sibling.