| Our older child cried his eyes out when we | | | | the parents, accepting the older child's negative or |
| brought the new baby home, even though we | | | | positive reaction to the baby, and making every |
| had thought we had prepared him well. This | | | | effort so the older child does not feel left out are |
| happened a little more than thirty years ago when | | | | significant things parents can do. |
| there existed no books to educate parents on | | | | The book also addresses a few other concerns |
| delicate sibling rivalry issues. Over the years, we | | | | such as the siblings sharing a room, baby's feeding |
| managed to ease up the tension between our | | | | time, playing with the baby, how to handle |
| two boys, but neither my husband nor I will ever | | | | jealousy issues if and when they happen, how to |
| forget the horror of that night. | | | | help an older child with special circumstances like |
| As parents of long ago, we may have missed the | | | | an adoption, a premature or ill infant, or |
| boat, but I am glad parents of today have | | | | miscarriage. |
| reference materials such as "Welcoming Your | | | | "Welcoming Your Second Baby" is in paperback |
| Second Baby" within easy reach. The book is | | | | with an index and a list for support groups at the |
| mostly about preparing the first child for the | | | | end. It consists of 120 pages and its ISBN is |
| sibling's arrival. When and how to tell the first child, | | | | 9780916773120. |
| sharing reproductive information that would fit the | | | | The author, Vicki Lansky, was born in 1942 in |
| age of the child, stressing the positive side of | | | | Louisville, KY, and grew up in Westchester, NY. |
| having a baby in the house, letting the child | | | | After receiving a degree from Connecticut |
| fantasize about the new arrival but not letting him | | | | College, she worked in New York City until 1971 |
| think that he would be a toy or a playmate, | | | | when she and her husband moved to Minneapolis. |
| showing other new babies to the child, reading | | | | She has been a columnist for the Minneapolis Star |
| baby books with the child, improving the child's | | | | Tribune, a contributing editor to Family Circle |
| self-esteem by letting him see his own baby | | | | magazine and has written a monthly column for |
| pictures, and making the major changes first, like | | | | Sesame Street Parents magazine for 9 years. |
| changing the older child's room and bed are dealt | | | | She is one of the National Parenting Center's |
| with detail in the beginning pages. | | | | featured parenting author contributors online. |
| The author, Vicki Lansky, advises the prospective | | | | Some of her books are: Toilet Training: A Practical |
| parents to work together and not let only one | | | | Guide to Daytime and Nighttime Training , |
| parent carry the burden, to train the family pets | | | | Birthday Parties Best Party Tips & Ideas For |
| to play gently with dolls, taking care of the | | | | Ages 1-8 , Dear Babysitter Handbook, Welcoming |
| mother's health and the couple's needs, and letting | | | | Your Second Baby, Getting Your Child to Sleep, |
| the older child share in the experience as much as | | | | Trouble-free Travel with Children, Baby Proofing |
| it is appropriate and doable. | | | | Basics and Games Babies Play From Birth to |
| Lansky also warns that preparing a one-year old | | | | Twelve Months, and Vicki Lansky's Divorce Book |
| is practically impossible; nevertheless, the parents | | | | for Parents: Helping Children Cope with Divorce |
| should include him in the preparations. After the | | | | and Its Aftermath. |
| baby arrives, parents should also let the older | | | | Her children/parent read-together books are Koko |
| sibling act babyish, if need be. On the other hand, | | | | Bear's New Potty, A New Baby at Koko Bear's |
| preparing the older children or a teenager is | | | | House, Koko Bear and the New Babysitter, and |
| another matter, and there are several caveats, | | | | Koko Bear's Big Earache. |
| one of which is: "Don't make your older child | | | | This is a book to enjoy and learn from. The birth |
| dread the baby's birth by talking a great deal | | | | of a second baby might be a most stressful |
| about how much help he or she is going to be." | | | | experience for everyone concerned. The |
| Preparing the younger child for the mother's | | | | recommendations in this book, however, can turn |
| hospital stay, calling him often from the hospital, | | | | it into a happy and memorable event. |
| letting someone carry the baby home rather than | | | | |