Toddler Behavior After a New Baby Arrives

Although you and your partner probably anticipated the new baby with eagerness, your toddler may not have the same excitement. A child in the toddler stage is still young herself, and she may have some issues with the new addition to the family. Although adding a new family member can be momentous, it can be challenging as well.

  1. Jealousy

    • A toddler can respond to the birth of a new baby with jealousy. This jealousy may be especially pronounced if the toddler and mother have a particularly close relationship, advises Kyla Boyse, registered nurse, with the University of Michigan Health System. Seeing her mother holding and feeding the baby can be difficult for a young child to understand. Jealousy can also ensue, due to a decrease in quality and quantity of time with parents because of the new baby̵7;s arrival.

    Regression

    • Most toddlers will experience some sort of regression with the addition of a new baby to the family, advises Kenneth N. Condrell, Ph.D., with the Fisher-Price website. Regression could manifest itself in a desire to bottle- or breast-feed, reversal in toilet-training progress, a desire for a pacifier or other baby-mimicking behaviors. If your toddler regresses, he needs your loving patience to help him feel loved and secure. Try to humor him for a short time and he̵7;ll likely realize that he likes being a little older soon.

    Aggression

    • Prepare for some aggressive behaviors as your toddler adjusts to the new baby, according to Vanderbilt University's Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker program. It̵7;s common for a toddler to experience some anger and frustration that fuels some acting out behaviors. Hitting and other forms of physical aggression could surface in quantity as your toddler adjusts to a sibling. If you see aggressive behavior from your toddler, work on naming and noticing feelings and then helping your child verbalize them. Saying ̶0;I feel mad!̶1; or ̶0;I don̵7;t like this!̶1; can help your toddler hear examples of expression of feelings. Take care not to leave your toddler unsupervised around the baby.

    Tantrums

    • Your little one may develop a short fuse and start displaying temper tantrums with the arrival of the new baby, according to the Lucile Packard Children̵7;s Hospital. Temper tantrums can often be your child̵7;s means of letting off steam and expressing anger and anxiety in response to the family upheaval. Deal with temper tantrums calmly and consistently, helping your child refocus on something positive and showing your child how much you love her.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Toddler Behavior After a New Baby Arrives
      Although you and your partner probably anticipated the new baby with eagerness, your toddler may not have the same excitement. A child in the toddler stage is still young herself, and she may have some issues with the new addition to the family. Alth
    • What age should children come of there booster seats?
      Its not about age, but about height and weight. Heres the general guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):* Booster seat: Children should use a booster seat until they are at least 49 tall and 8-10 years old, whichever comes first. Th
    • How to Be More Responsible With Your Toddlers
      You’ve probably seen a wild child running around the supermarket or throwing a fit in a crowded restaurant and wondered, “Whose kid is this?” If you realize your own little one has these same tantrums or seemingly uncontrollable beh