Hello Ladies,
I am expecting my third child in December and they have sibling classes at the hospital I was thinking of registering my son and daughter for. I wanted to know if anyone has ever taken their child to these classes and if they found it beneficial for them. The age group is 3-7 and my son will be 3 in a couple of months and my daughter is 4. Or if it is better just to by them the books about becoming a big sister (again) and a big brother and talking to them about what will happen. Im not so worried about my daugther she seems very excited and really knows what is happening this time around since she is older...but im worried my son will be jealous of the attention the baby gets so I wanted to try to make him as prepared as a 3 year old can be! Thank you!
congratulations J.!!
yes! do it! The class is age appropriate & the kids will love it, they learn soo much!
i did it with my 7yo!
Good Luck!
I took my 3-year-old daughter to a sibling class at Newton-Wellesley before her little sister was born, and I would recommend it. The instructor talked a lot about being gentle with babies and not putting things over their faces, etc. Even more valuable, I thought, was the tour of the postpartum area, where the children will come to visit you and the baby for the first time. I think that made it all less stressful for her because she could picture where I was going to be and knew what to expect. Good luck!
I took my then 5 year old and 3 year old to the class at Women and Infants. I thought the class was pretty stupid but they both absolutely loved it - and let's face it - their opinions are the only ones that count! I didn't regret it.
Hi J.,
We did a sibling class at Norwood hospital when I was expecting my third and fourth babies. My daughters loved it. It was very laid-back and quiet. Actually, both times we had "private classes". When I was expecting my fourth, I took two of my daughters together. They made cards for the baby, listened to stories, practiced holding a "baby" doll, had a snack, toured the unit and looked in the nursery, and found the "kitchenette" on the unit so that they could get me a snack when I was in the hospital. They loved it. When I had the baby a few weeks later, they felt so comfortable and were excited to be back on the unit. It was a great experience for all of us. It got me excited, too...being on the unit and seeing the babies in the nursery!
Best of luck!
I did the sibling class with my oldest son when I was pregnant with my middle one and it was very helpful for him. So I would do it.
Congratulations on your 3rd baby! We took my just-turned 3 year old to a sibling class at the hospital a couple of weeks before my second was born. She seemed to enjoy it and got alot from it because it talks about what the baby will and won't be able to do right away and the feelings that come with having a new baby. They read a story and watched a silly (but relevant) movie about being a big brother/sister; brought in a doll/animal to swaddle; and toured the maternity wing so they are familiar with that if you're planning on having your kids come visit you and the baby in the hospital. THey also had a craft at the end where the siblings each made/decorated a "Happy Birth Day" card for the new baby with their own photo and message on it. Very cute. We also got a couple of I'm a Big Sister books to read, so overall the class was a way to reinforce the fact that they have an important job/role as a big sibling when "their" new baby arrives. I'd definitely do it again if we were to have more children. Good luck!
My daughter just turned 3 when I took her to a sibling class at the hospital. She got to bring a stuffed animal/doll with her and the teacher showed the kids how to swaddle their "babies". We also took a tour of the hospital and saw where mommy would be and where the baby would sleep. They also went over some things like "what do babies eat?", "why does a baby cry?" etc. I thought it was a cute little class. I also read some books ahead of time. I thought "A New Baby at Koko Bear's House" was pretty good. Congratulations on the pregnancy!
My friend took her son when they were expecting another one. I an signing my 3 year old daughter up for the sep. class. It helps alot as i have been told. We are due nov 7 good luck.
My husband took my 4.5 year old twins to the sibling class at Mt Auburn and they loved it. They also swaddled their baby dolls and got a tour of the postpartum area. When I was there they pointed out the red line that you can't take the babies past or an alarm will sound! It definitely made my daughter more comfortable with the whole thing.
I took my 3 year old daughter and it was a waste of time. I would say just prep them with stories od their births and books. Maybe even take them to the hsoptial to show htem where you will be staying and to see the babies in the nursey. I was really disappointed in the class. Moms and dads can explain it better.
Loved it loved it loved it!
I told everyone it was $$ well spent. I loved how they broke it down into age groups. My son remembered 2 months later what he learned in the class. Funniest thing is to hear what the kids say about the upcoming arrival. My son said. "well we dont know what we are having -my mom said she wants us to be surprised." But we have been getting the room ready for it--our baby is going to sleep in a crate." LOL Yeah he said crate instead of crib :) Another kid said, " my dad says tell your mother she is beautiful everytime she cries that she is huge as house." haha
