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• Check with your hospital, doctor, or childbirth instructor to see if sibling classes are offered in your area for children whose parents are expecting. Such classes, appropriately geared to children’s ages, can be very helpful.

• Let your child come with you to checkups and have those questions your child may have, answered. Ultrasound images can be shared with the soon-to-be sibling.

• Don’t deprive your toddler of your attention, but don’t go overboard in the other direction, either. Go out with your spouse reasonably often (with a reliable sitter in charge, of course) and insist on some quiet time for yourself, all to help prepare your child for the future new demands there will be on your time.

• If you don’t send your child to preschool, daycare or a play group, this might be the time to start. At the very least your child will be comfortable in an out-of-the-house setting. You may want to start your own as a way of preparing your child to being around other kids.

• Don’t pile on too many gifts and treats before the birth (or after it either), or you’ll be sending a guilt-laden message to your child.

• Get out your photos or movies and spend time together looking at pictures of your child as an infant.

• Make big changes, such as moving the child to a big bed, completing toilet training, or giving up the bottle, well before the baby’s expected birth, so the child will feel that he or she is growing up, not being pushed aside.

TIPS FOR MOVING UP TO A BIG BED

As a rule of thumb, a child thirty-six inches tall is big enough for a big bed.

• Let your child start with a pillow while still in the crib. It helps children learn how to center themselves while asleep.

• Set up the full size bed while the crib is still up, and let your child first nap there and then read stories together there. Let your child choose where to sleep for a few weeks.

• Does the room allow for a full or queen-size bed? Less chance of rolling off...more room for snuggles and family time. Using a trundle bed? Let the child sleep in the lower ‘trundle’ section at first.

• Limitroll-offproblems by: putting the mattress (or even the crib mattress) on the floor; pushing the bed up against a wall and placing cushions on the floor on the open side; or use a removable side-rail for a few weeks.

• Let your child pick out sheets for the new ‘grown-up’ bed.

• Celebrate the switch with a ‘big bed’ party. Family members can bring new stuffed animals for the event.