Baby and Big Sister Gifts

T-shirt

• Big sister has a new role to fill, and an "I'm a big sister" t-shirt reflects this new position. She won't feel left out in the celebration of the baby's arrival, because she now has an an even more important part in the family -- a big sister. Also, get a little sister or brother t-shirt or onesie for the baby; that way big sister will connect her position (big sister) with the position of the new arrival (little sister) and begin to feel a special bond with the baby.

Photograph

• A photograph of the big sister and the new arrival is something the whole family will treasure forever. Give a framed photo of the siblings together -- taken either professionally or by yourself -- to big sister. She will probably be surprised at how much bigger she is than her sibling and will begin to understand how important her role as the older sibling really is.

Baby Doll

• Get big sister a baby doll to handle and take care of, just like Mom does with the real baby. A doll allows her to understand the world of babies, preparing her to better care for her little sibling in the future. Some stores even sell big sister and little sister dolls, one for each child. These dolls can reinforce for big sister their special connection. When she's ready, big sister will be able help with some age-appropriate tasks, such as setting diapers out for changes, picking out baby's outfits and even keeping an eye on the baby when Mom has to leave the room for a moment.

A Party

• Throw the older sibling a "big sister party," celebrating her transition into the role of a big sister. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a small get-together during which the importance of her new role in the family is recognized. Let her wear her "big sister" t-shirt and be the star of the show.