Big Brother Gift

I always get a gift for the big brother or sister. For the last shower I went to I got the big brother a baby doll in boy colors. He absolutely loves this baby and still plays with it every day and copies mommy.

My friends gave my firstborn gifts when I was pregnant with my second. I loved the idea. And now I do the same with others. I agree with Nori H, anything that says "big brother" is great. It gives them a new title with a sense of great importance. One of my friends also gave my daughter one of those one-time use cameras and a little album. She used the camera when the baby was born. It was fun to develop the pictures and see what she had taken.

Hi Jennifer,

I made my son an "I'm the Big Brother" t-shirt. He loved it. When my daughter was born he wanted to wear it to preschool everyday.

At the same time, I made my daughter a "Little Sister" onesie. They are my favorite pictures. Him holding her in their little shirts.

I made another for a friend's son. He wasn't thrilled at the time to get clothes as a gift but on the day his brother was born he was proud to get the recognition!

I wish in hindsight I would have got him something that he really enjoyed to go with the shirt like a cool truck or car. Something that really was just for him and not associated. The combination I think would have been perfect.

C.

Hi Jennifer, I would get him a stuffed animal of maybe one of his favorite charactors. J. L.

Hi Jennifer,
I also do this anytime there are older siblings under five. For a two year old boy it should be easy he really would like ANYTHING. I would suggest even going to the dollar store and getting him "lots" of things cars trucks action figures crayons books another suggestion is if he will be at the shower make him your assistant he can show people where to put gifts hand gifts to mom when its time to open them. Any little job that makes him feel important will help. I wish more people would think of the older siblings too it helps. Good luck

I suggest having his mom help him learn to put a disposable diaper on a stuffed animal as well as show her son how to properly hold an infant. When he comes to the party he can demonstrate his new skills then be presented with "The Best Big Brother" trophy and a Happy Meal or something.
My local, small town hospital had a big brother/sister class that I had enrolled my eldest daughter in many years ago. She had to take a doll/stuffed animal and practice those skills along with other such skills. At the end of the night, all of the kids got a diploma and snacks. She was sure proud of herself!

When I was pregnant with my son, I was also worried about my daughter feeling left out at the shower. I looked at some articals online for ideas and she recieved her first "big girl" necklace at the shower. I also read that it was good to get a small gift for the older child to give to the new baby and vice versa for when the baby is born and he comes to see the baby for the first time. We did that and my daughter loved it and can still remember what it was she gave to him and what he gave to her. I would maybe give him a small toy and then a shirt or a hat with big brother on it and the get something matching for the new baby. Toys r us online had a lot to choose from. There are also a lot of books for young children about new babies coming into the family, it will help to undestand that he is not being replaced, the family is just getting bigger. Good Luck!!!

I have a nine month old and my oldest son was 3 when he was born...I have to say, people gave him gifts, but he never expected them and honestly, never needed them, although it was very nice.

We explained the shower was for the baby and that when he was a baby, we had one for him. I also showed him the pictures of the shower from his scrapbook. He seemed fine with this. I'm not sure when this whole "buy the older child thing" started, but I find it so unnecessary. As the oldest of four growing up, I know it didn't happen when I was little and that's just fine!

That being said, your question was what to get not my opinion on whether to do it! :) I think my son got a DVD he liked, big brother shirts, just little stuff that probably cost $10-$20...I'm so glad it wasn't anything more. We don't buy him toys except for his birthday and Christmas and he so doesn't need more than that!

Good luck!
-M

How very thoughtful of you to think of the son!

His feelings of jealousy and apprehension is normal - he should be included in helping prepare for the baby's arrival and his new role as older brother.

I feel it is important for him to understand that the shower is for the baby. Maybe he can help in some way with the shower for his little sibling?

A few years ago we got our 2yr old son a baby doll (Beringer newborn boy) to prepare for his little brother - he helped bath and diaper and take care of his "baby" to learn about babies and what to expect (along with reading books on becoming a brother).
HELLO BABY by Lizzy Rockwell
WHAT BABY NEEDS by William Sears
THE KISSING HAND by Audrey Penn
THE NEW BABY by Fred Rogers
The New Baby at Your House BY Joanne Cole
Usborne First Experiences The New Baby by Anna Chivardi

We also had him get something for the baby.

Good luck.

How wonderful of you to think of the soon-to-be big brother! I was afraid our oldest would get lost in the shuffle, so I bought her an "I'm the Big Sister, Now" book, along with a button and a t-shirt to wear to the hospital (to show off to the nurses, etc.). Maybe you could find something like that for him? Another idea is a basket full of books and small age-appropriate toys to help keep him busy while mom is taking care of baby.

I think something as simple as a coloring book and crayons would work. My parents used to do this all the time for us (I am the oldest of 4). I have done it several times for friends kids.