Preparing Older Children for a New Siblings

  By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh  

Tips for parents to help prepare older children for a new sibling

Welcoming a new brother or sister into the family can be an exciting experience for a child. However, it is normal for children to feel jealous of their new sibling.

Some young children may regress to baby-like behaviours. For example, a child who is already toilet-trained may start wetting themselves again or throwing tantrums.

The way you show love and provide support to an older child, as well as how you handle their behaviour, is crucial. It is important to talk with your child and teach them how to cope with and manage their emotions.

Make sure you tell your child that they are loved and valued as an important part of the family.

To help an older child prepare for the arrival of a new baby, you can:

• Get an early start on any major changes to daily routines. Give your child time to adapt to any big transitions long before the new baby comes home. This may include moving to a new bedroom, toilet training, or starting preschool.

  
  

• Have conversations with them about the pregnancy and the upcoming addition to the family.

  
  

• Let your child know what to expect. Give them a chance to ask questions and express their concerns.

  
  

• Involve them in getting ready for the new baby, such as discussing potential names.

  
  

• Bring them along to some antenatal appointments.

  
  

• Read stories to the older sibling about having younger siblings. There are many children's books and videos that discuss getting a new brother or sister. These can help your child understand the process and make it easier for them to talk about their feelings.

  
  

• Take them to visit friends who have babies.

  
  

• Practice with a doll. Give your son or daughter a baby doll they can use to learn how to hold a baby. Praise them as they get the hang of supporting the head and using a gentle touch.

  
  

• Share family memories. Break out the old baby books and tell your son or daughter how excited you were about their birth. Look through their baby photos and pick some out to display around the house.

  
  

• Make your baby's homecoming a team effort. Give your kids a role to play. They may want to select the outfit the baby will wear home or help send out birth announcements. Make the day special with a cake and some small gifts for every family member.

Helping an older child adapt:

It is common for older children to experience feelings of jealousy. They may exhibit baby-like behaviours or seek attention through bottle feeding or using baby talk.

If possible, dedicate quality time to spend with your older child. Stick to their usual routines and engage in conversations or play games with them. Just 10 minutes of special one-on-one time can make a difference in helping them feel secure and adjust to their new role in the family.

How you can help prepare your child to adjust to a new baby:

Here are some steps to take after the new baby arrives:

1. Provide time and attention

Spend regular one-on-one time with your older child. However busy your schedule gets, set aside time to give each child your full attention. Plan special outings or let them choose a book or game to enjoy together.

2. Encourage visitors to acknowledge your older child as a great big brother or sister

It's easy for your son or daughter to feel left out when everyone is fussing over the baby. Make a deliberate effort to steer positive attention their way. Bring them into group discussions and brag a little about their accomplishments.

3. Encourage their involvement, particularly during playtime and reading sessions

Work as a team in caring for the new baby. Find age-appropriate tasks your kids can excel at. Even toddlers can help by smiling and talking with their new baby brother or sister. Older kids may want to pitch in with bathing and feeding. Let your family find its own comfort level. Avoid forcing them to be overly involved.

4. Respect your child's privacy

Siblings are great for teaching how to share, but your child probably still wants some items and places to call their own. Honour their preferences for toys they're happy to share and possessions that they want to use exclusively.

5. Praise your child for their contribution to your growing family

Most of all, let your son or daughter know how much you appreciate them. Applaud their progress in becoming more independent and giving of themselves to help the family run smoothly.

 

It's challenging to deal with a new baby. Reassure your child and give your children lots of attention and guidance to help keep harmony in the family. The relationship between brothers and sisters is a precious gift, so get them off to a great start.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All our products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.