Gift for Big Brother

I think the camera is great. I know you got him a big brother shirt, but I wanted to mention a 'big brother' gift we got for friends that is raved about 3yrs later - we got him a Captain Awesome t-shirt and had a craft friend make a matching cape. He was 3yo when his sister was born. Good luck :)

OMG - do the camera! My almost 5 & 3 yr old each got one for Christmas (she had just turned 3) & I LOVE watching them take the pictures & being their object of desire! They figured it out on their own and found all these neat features I wish were on my camera. On a side note, when my daughter was born, my son got a gift from her (matchbox cars & Thomas trains) in the hospital and it went over really well. Great idea.

I love all your ideas! I think they are great. It might be wise to get him the doll ahead of time so he can practice -- you can teach him what he can and can't do with the baby. Maybe for the nursing basket, include some new (small) books you can read to him while you nurse.

We got our son the digital camera (he turned three a month after his siter was born). We told him how busy we were going to be in the beginning and we needed his help getting all kinds of extra pictures of his baby sister. He loved it and took his job seriously. Basically, we wanted something to distract him, so he wouldn't feel too left out while every one "Oohed" and "ahhed" over baby. It worked like a charm. ANd the pictures are pretty funny. IV pools, tile floors, the nurse's shoes, trash cans. I don't think he took one single picture of a human the entire day. :) The picture quality on the kid cameras is not great, but he didn't seem to notice or care at all. He often took the camera with him on special trips (zoo and such). I loved seeing the world through his eyes. HE is six and recently moved up to a "real" camera while his three year old sister plays with the kid camera. That has been a great addition to our family momentoes!

A few things we did to make my son feel included were pick things for baby. I'd choose two packs of burp cloths and then let him pick which one we were getting. I also let him help clean the baby's room. (HE wiped things down with baby wipes). I nursed, so his job was to bring the boppy for us (he took that task very seriously ). My sister in law filled a card board suitcase with stuff from the dollar store for him to take to the hospital. SHe didn't spend a lot- she used a MIchael's coupon for the suitcase and then picked up cars, plastic bugs, a small cookie sheet for the magnets she got. It was all stuff to entertain him while he had to wait at the hospital.

Congrats on the new bundle!

My MIL got my daughter a baby doll when her little sister was born. She didn't pay any attention to it. Frankly, she wasn't really too concerned with her sister. She loved her and would kiss her, etc. but for the most part she ignored her.

Of the things you mentioned, I would get the child's camera. But don't be surprised if his favorite subject matter is something other than his sister. I would also get some coloring books that he can use when you are nursing.

My son was close to 4 when we had our second, but I did a few things that really seemed to work to keep the almost 4 year old happy.

First, my son and I went shopping and picked out a special outfit for the baby. This was HIS gift to the baby and he got to give it to the baby when they met for the first time.

Second, son and I made plans regarding what he could do to help out his busy Mom. I cleared out a low drawer in the kitchen (close to where I would nurse in the daytime) and filled it with burp rags and bibs. His "job" was to get me a bib or burp rag whenever I needed one. Granted, he often took a long time (I kept a similar stack right next to my seat) and I would no longer need what I had sent him to get, but it made him feel important and involved in the excitement of having a new member of the family. I also always made sure to thank him for helping. Nothing seems to work better with my boys than just acknowledging the good things they do, no matter how small!

I also put together a collection of really small gifts (mostly match box cars, since that was what interested him the most). If someone came over with a gift for the baby (and none for the older), he'd get to choose one of the wrapped small presents from the basket. He didn't care that it was something small (or cheap). He was just excited because he got a present, just like the baby.

I think just to being aware of what's going on with the older and keep communicating will keep most jealousy at bay. My son was pretty happy to go off and play on his own a lot of the time (after all, babies are pretty boring to them!), especially if when he did look for my attention, he got it or was promised a time soon when he could have my attention. Often just explaining why I couldn't play at the moment and promising to play once done with "X" was enough to make him happy.

I love the idea of the camera too. It could be a great thing for you to look at together when you're in between busy moments with the baby. If you go with the camera, you may want to consider having some photo scavenger hunt ideas at the ready. (I've done this with both my kids with great results.) Since he's probably not reading yet, put together some pages with some images of things he can find around the house. Make a game of him taking pictures of those same types of things around your house. It'll keep him busy and he'll love showing you the results when he's done!

Best of luck with your new addition!

Are you talking about gifts for his birthday, or just for when you bring the baby home, and you told us about his birthday so we'd know how old he is? Of your suggestions, I think the camera is the best for a "new big brother" gift. But I would suggest for his birthday something that's more about HIM than about the baby. Even if it is just a chance to go out for ice cream alone with Mommy, or some time to make him feel special.

Sorry but never dawned on me to get a gift for siblings when we brought a
baby home.