How the Story Really Goes Introducing Your Child to Your New Baby

I dreamed of the moment when my daughter would meet her baby sister. It would be magical. I had visions of the hospital room when big sister would timidly peer in at the new baby. Being shy at first, but curious. Maybe reaching out to touch baby or just staring at her in amazement. Then sitting with me to hold her and cuddle in and cherish the start of our four-person family.

Yah, it didn’t quite happen like that.

Here is how it really went down:

I push out Baby Sister M close to midnight on a Monday. Little N is with Grandma and we plan to have them visit the following day.

We wake up the next morning. Wait, we don’t ‘wake up’ because we never actually went to sleep. Turns out baby wanted to cry for literally 7 hours straight after birth.

We all finally fall asleep at 7am. I open my eyes about half hour later to a doctor, no, a trainee, staring at me. As soon as my eyes have opened he promptly asks how I am feeling and then leaves. What the F?! You just WOKE ME UP after being up 24 hours prior to the birth, then giving birth, then being up all night with crying baby and contraction-like pains from my uterus shrinking, and then having just fallen asleep, you ask me how I’m feeling?

Okay, I’ll get over it.

So, we get up and prepare for my parents and Little N’s arrival. I get the camera ready and then sit and marvel at this new little creation that only hours before had been in my belly.

I get a call from Grandma that they are almost at the maternity ward so I get up and wait at the entrance to the ward. I’m really excited to see my little girl and give her a big hug! I have this whole plan to give her lots of attention while visiting with the baby so she knows just how much we love her.

After all, we have been preparing for this moment for months. Explaining how baby is growing in mum’s tummy, talking about a new baby sister, etc. But do they really get that their little lives as they know it will very rudely and quickly change?

I see her coming down the hallway and I gear up for a big hug. No, that doesn’t happen. She just kind of saunters by me, more curious about the wall despite not seeing mum for the last few days.

We head back to the hospital room after I coax a tiny, split second hug from her. We walk inside and I steer Little N to the bassinet where her baby sister lies all swaddled up. She glances over, but is generally disinterested.

I’m not discouraged.

I scoop up baby M, sit on the bed with her and call over Little N to get a better look and to maybe even sit with Mummy! No, she’s not having any of that either. The bribing starts.

Commmmonnn, come sit with me and the baby

We can take a picture!

Want to see the baby?

Look at her little face! 

Little N, come here, I miss you!

Want some snacks?

Okay, that did it. Snacks always work. So she climbs up and sits with me. Now to get a picture. She’s already squirming away, I gotta make this fast!

We manage to snap one photo. On an iPhone. Not even with our brand new big expensive $700 camera.

My hopes of this magical picture that gets framed and displayed on the wall proudly as the moment we all fell in love with our new family completely dashed.

Little N gets off the bed. She’s already headed to the door, demanding Grandma make her some lunch.

Sigh.

The funny thing is. I still absolutely loved that moment no matter how ‘imperfect’ it was.

It wasn’t until a week or so after Baby M came home that Little N actually became interested in her. I think for a while she thought Baby M was a doll.

What was your sibling introduction moments like?

     

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