When you’re expecting your second, third, fourth (or more) child, there is another thing you can expect: LOTS of questions from your older kids. How does the baby get in your belly? How big is it going to get? How does the baby eat? How does the baby breathe? What does the baby look like? When will the baby be here?
My four and two-year-olds are both curious by nature, and some of their questions leave me at a loss because I don’t always know how to explain the answers in a way that makes sense to them. And as anyone with preschool or toddler-age children knows, answering one question only leads to a million follow-up questions starting with, “Why?”
That’s why I would like to recommend several resources that have really helped us get excited and knowledgeable about the new baby joining our family this fall. These resources cover everything from how the baby is conceived to how it grows to what to expect when the baby arrives.
Talking about Pregnancy
Before You Were Born: A Lift-the-Flap Book, by Jennifer Davis
This book is a huge favorite in our house. You can never go wrong with flap books! Each month has a flap with a rhyming story about what is happening with the baby’s development. Great for toddlers and preschoolers.
The Pregnant Body Book: The Complete Illustrated Guide from Conception to Birth
I bought this book for myself before the birth of my first child. The pictures inside are amazing and beautiful, but you may want to first flip through on your own to see how much you are comfortable sharing with your child. It’s truly amazing to see what the baby looks like inside the womb, and my children still can’t get over the fact that they once had tails.
What to Expect When Mommy’s Having a Baby, by Heidi Murkoff
Written by the same author who made the popular “What to Expect” series for adults, this book answers even the toughest questions simply and honestly. Starting with “How did the baby get there?” and ending with “How does it get out?” this book offers pictures, encouragement, and tips for helping Mom along with its explanations. Great for preschool and early elementary age children.
Talking about Life with a New Baby
There are almost too many books on this topic to name them all, but some of our favorites include:
- The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby by Stan Berenstain
- I’m a Big Sister/ I’m a Big Brother by Joanna Cole
- I’m a New Big Sister / I’m a New Big Brother by Nora Gaydos
- My New Baby by Rachel Fuller
- The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
