How to Prepare Siblings for the Arrival of a New Baby

Welcoming a new baby is an exciting milestone, but for siblings, it can also bring uncertainty, big emotions, and lots of questions. One of the most helpful ways to ease this transition is to treat preparation as a shared family effort, one where siblings feel involved, capable, and valued.

Preparing siblings isn’t just about talking through what’s coming. It’s about creating moments of collaboration and spaces that remind them they still have an important place in the family.

Why Preparing Siblings Works Best as a Team Effort

For young children, a new baby can feel like a sudden shift in attention, routine, and control. When siblings are invited into the preparation process, the change feels less like something happening to them and more like something they’re helping with.

Taking a collaborative approach can help:

• Reduce anxiety and confusion

• Build confidence and pride

• Strengthen sibling and family bonds

• Support smoother emotional adjustment

When siblings feel like active participants, they’re more likely to approach the transition with curiosity instead of fear.

Start Conversations During Shared Moments

Talking about the baby early gives siblings time to process what’s coming. These conversations often feel most natural when they happen during everyday activities rather than formal sit-downs.

Reading books together, drawing pictures, or building during playtime creates easy openings for discussion. 

Turn Baby Prep Into a Shared Project

One of the most effective ways to prepare siblings is to invite them into the process in small, meaningful ways. This helps them see the baby as something the family is preparing for together.

You might:

• Ask them to help organize a basket for baby items

• Let them choose a book to read to the baby

• Talk through what babies need while sorting clothes or blankets

Creating a designated spot where siblings can draw, build, or talk while helping makes these moments feel collaborative. A simple table with child-sized chairs becomes a space where preparation and conversation happen side by side.

Create Spaces That Are Just for Them

As the nursery comes together, it’s just as important to protect spaces that belong to your older child. Having areas that remain theirs helps reinforce security during a time of change.

Sibling-dedicated spaces might include:

• A reading corner with favorite books

• A play zone that stays unchanged after the baby arrives

• A quiet spot for winding down

Comfortable seating, low book storage, or familiar furniture in these areas helps siblings self-regulate and retreat when things feel overwhelming. These spaces quietly communicate, “You still belong here.”

Talk Through Changes Together

If your older child is transitioning to a new bed or rearranging their room, involving them in those decisions helps reduce resistance and build ownership.

Instead of framing changes as making room for the baby, focus on growth:

• “This is part of you getting bigger.”

• “You’re helping us get ready as a family.”

Working together to set up their toddler room or bedtime space reinforces independence and shows that change can be positive when it’s shared.

Use Play as a Way to Process Big Feelings

Play is one of the most natural ways children make sense of change. Through pretend play, kids can explore new roles, routines, and emotions safely.

Creating flexible play spaces encourages this. Open-ended seating or soft play furniture allows siblings to build “family spaces,” act out routines, or simply decompress. These moments help children process feelings they may not yet have words for.

Keep Family Routines Grounded in Familiar Spaces

Once the baby arrives, attention will naturally shift. Having predictable routines tied to familiar spaces helps siblings feel anchored.

Simple habits like:

• Reading together in the same glider or recliner each night

• Keeping bedtime routines consistent

• Maintaining familiar play zones

can make a big difference. These small consistencies help siblings feel secure, even as family dynamics evolve.

Reinforce Their Role as a Big Sibling

Praise efforts, not perfection. Whether they help grab a diaper or simply talk about their feelings, acknowledging their role builds confidence.

Simple affirmations go a long way:

• “You’re such a thoughtful helper.”

• “The baby is lucky to have you.”

• “It’s okay to feel a little unsure sometimes.”

When siblings feel seen and appreciated, they’re more likely to respond to change with confidence and empathy.

Preparing siblings for a new baby is about connection, communication, and consistency. By starting conversations early, involving siblings in preparation, maintaining routines, and using play to process emotions, families can support a smoother transition for everyone.

A little preparation goes a long way in turning change into connection.