𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐝,
Cami puts her hands on my belly and waits so patiently to feel her baby sibling move 🥹
If the baby isn’t moving yet, I’ll gently push my belly out so she thinks it’s the baby and 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.
Even though this morning the baby was visibly moving like crazy and she got the real thing!! 🤍
𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐎 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝.
She talks to the baby, wants to buy gifts, reminds me not to do too much because “𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑚𝑎𝑚𝑎,” and already takes her big sister role so seriously.
We read “Hello in There”, our big sister waiting book, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 single night before bed, and 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬.
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝.
She is going to be the best big sister. 💕
The connection between siblings often starts long before birth, and it’s truly special to witness this early bond form through simple yet meaningful gestures. When a big sister like Cami places her hands gently on her mother's belly, she's not only feeling the baby move but also beginning to nurture a deep emotional relationship. This nightly routine of bonding helps the older sibling prepare emotionally for the arrival, promoting feelings of love and responsibility. Many families find that involving the older child in pregnancy helps ease any anxiety about changes that come with a new baby. Feeling the baby move can make the experience very real for the big sibling, who might sometimes be unsure what to expect. If the baby isn’t active, little improvisations like gently pushing the belly to mimic movement, as mentioned, can light up a child’s face with joy and anticipation. Reading books such as “Hello in There” each night is a wonderful practice to reinforce the sibling role and teach children about the arrival of a new family member. These stories encourage empathy, patience, and excitement, making the big sister feel important and involved. This nurturing phase benefits all family members. For the mother, seeing the older child excited and caring fosters a supportive environment, while the baby in the womb can even respond visibly to the touches and voices heard regularly. Experts suggest that talking and reading to the unborn baby can promote early interaction and may positively influence early development. Overall, these moments of connection highlight the beautiful transition into a larger family dynamic. Encouraging older siblings in this way supports healthy relationships from the start, creating a foundation of love and care that will grow as the children do. The anticipation, preparation, and love shared before birth are some of the most precious times in a family’s life, filled with unforgettable memories and joyful expectations.
