Preparing An Older Child For An Adopted Baby

Family

  • Author Jeremy Smith
  • Published June 26, 2011
  • Word count 545

The arrival of an adopted baby brings significant changes into a family. Some children are extremely happy to receive a new brother or sister and treat it with love and care. Others respond with jealousy and aggressiveness to the adoptive newborn. Preparing a youngster for a foster sibling provides an excellent start in their relationship with each other.

Talk to the adolescent about the arrival of the new family addition three to four months before the adoption is finalized. The parent should tell him that the decision of having an adoptive child was made because so many youngsters in this world wish to grow up in a loving family.

Some children look forward to having a new playmate and someone to share with. They may be disappointed with the adopted infant who sleeps mostly, and assured that this will change over time. It is essential that parents talk to their youngster about how it will be when the baby comes home. They should, furthermore, tell him how it was when he was a newborn, and show him photos.

If changes in the family routine are required, such as the biological child moving to another room, then this should be done in advance, too. Mothers and fathers should discourage the impression that these transformations are made because of the adopted infant. Parents should also avoid major adjustments in the adolescent's daily routine in the month before the baby moves in.

It is crucial that the older ones do not feel excluded. Adults should ask whether they wants to help once the adoptive sibling arrives, or not. Youngsters love to have vital tasks, and the child will grow to adore the infant while aiding with feeding or changing diapers. Moreover, the adolescent should be praised for his cooperation. Also, if he does not wish to participate he should not be forced to do so, as this will most likely cause rebellion.

It is a terrific idea to encourage a young person to be affectionate. Let him hold the baby and cuddle with him. The youngster should receive kind words for dealing tenderly with the little one, and moms and dads should talk to him about how the infant reacts to it. Caresses promote the relationship between him and the adopted sibling. Plus, it shows the older youngster that he can have fun with the newborn.

People should expect their offspring to reflect mixed reactions when they first see the new brother or sister. Regardless of what steps are taken before the adoption, a parent should not be too concerned whether the child hugs or cuddles with the newcomer or not. The young person will do so when the right time has come.

One last tip is to not allow the biological child to feel guilty about any negative perceptions toward the new sibling. If the offspring mentions that he does not like the baby, then the adult might agree with him that it is not always fun to have a newborn in the house, but that he was once a newborn and should give him a chance. The parent could tell him that everyone loves the infant but that there are some things that are too hard, such as getting up in the middle of the night.

If you are interested in Kansas adoption or a Kansas adoption agencies, be sure to visit Adoption & Beyond.

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