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Gift ideas from the new baby to the skids?

SteppingUp's picture

Submitted by SteppingUp on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 9:34am

We want to get the skids a little something from the new baby (their little brother, due in 5 weeks), and have it ready right after he's born to give it to them. The skids are 3 and 5.

I bought SS3 a t-shirt that says "Big Bro" on it, but also want to get him something else because obviously he won't be that pumped about a t-shirt Smile I guess maybe just a toy?

For SD5, I was thinking maybe a book that her little brother wants her to read to him? (She's just starting to read.)

Can anyone think of any other ideas or things that might be more meaningful but still appropriate for kids 3 and 5?

Comments

stepsonhatesme's picture

Submitted by stepsonhatesme on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 10:13am

How about a shirt that says "I'm the BIG sister" or "I'm the BIG brother ". Give them little things to "help" with the baby..it will draw them closer if they feel like they're actually doing something for the baby.
CONGRATULATIONS! !!

caregiver1127's picture

Submitted by caregiver1127 on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 10:41am

When DD5 was born I had her give her brother a whole box of basketball cards cause that was what he was into at the time. I wrote a little card from her to him. That way he did not feel completely left out. I would get a small toy that they like nothing real big just something small but make it a toy at 3 and 5 toys rule.

Last-Wife's picture

Submitted by Last-Wife on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 10:42am

When we announced to the skids they were getting a new sibling, PITA 16 was in kindergarten, and was studying the letter "F" that week... All my skids have names that start with the letter "f." So PITA announced very excitedly, "We should name the baby FROG! Frog starts with F!"

Instantly, a theme was born! We did not know the sex of the baby, but we decorated the nursery in frogs- anything with a frog on it, we bought it!

When our son was born, he "gave" his siblings each a stuffed frog from a specialty toy store where we were able to insert a recorded chip that said "I'm glad you're my brother/sister!" and a tshirts with cartoon frogs that said "I'm the big brother/sister!" And the baby had a onsie with the smae frog that said "I'm the baby!"

Princess 18 made sure the frog went with her to college...

Nette5's picture

Submitted by Nette5 on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 11:23am

This isn't necessarily 'from' the baby, but it's an idea:

I know a family when every time a new baby was born, they would give the big kids a baby doll of their own. Mom would come in from the hospital and give everyone their 'very own baby' then dad would hand mom the new brother/sister. That way when mom was taking care of 'her' baby, everyone else could take care of 'their' babies. I think this helped the parents be able to keep extra 'helping' from causing bigger problems and jealousy.

SteppingUp's picture

Submitted by SteppingUp on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 12:00pm

I like that! that's cute! Definitely would be a good gift for SD5, even though she's not really into dolls. But then again that might make that doll more special becuase she doesn't have many.

Elizabeth's picture

Submitted by Elizabeth on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 10:00am

I agree with doll idea. Baby BD was born when my older BD was 2.5. While I was breastfeeding baby BD, her big sister would sit next to me and pretend to breastfeed a baby doll. It was so cute! It also cut down (a bit) on big sister BD's incessant desire to hold the baby and even her jealousy at me spending so much time with baby BD because she had her own "baby" to done on and care for.

Tx mommy of 3's picture

Submitted by Tx mommy of 3 on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 3:08pm

A book about big brother/big sisters- there is one called 'I'm a Big Brother' by Joanna Cole that is cute for little ones. There is a sister one too. there is another book called "What Sisters Do Best". It is cute because the other half of the book is "What Brothers Do Best". A disposable camera for them to take pictures of and with the baby, a picture frame to put a pic of them holding the baby, a coloring book with new crayons, small toys, bubbles, play dough, stickers, a cd with their name in the songs, a favorite movie... We did this each time I had a baby. We'd give the siblings a basket 'from the baby'. At 3, my ds just thought everything in his basket was so cool because it was from the baby. He even liked his Big Brother t-shirt. But at 5 weeks awayyou should start putting it together and out of the way because the baby can come anytime now! Wink

SteppingUp's picture

Submitted by SteppingUp on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 9:24am

I agree...I'm kind of leaving that up to DF. I mentioned it to him and we'll see what he comes up with. I TOTALLY agree with you about teaching them to give!

overit2's picture

Submitted by overit2 on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 10:05am

Yeah, not sure I get the concept of receiving from the baby? Maybe just seems like it might set up kid for some entitlement issues...but YES something about big brother/big sister -a book or tshirt -the book would teach them how to learn the responsibilities of the older sibling.

Time for them to 'give back' to baby-not receive a gift-seems odd to me.

SteppingUp's picture

Submitted by SteppingUp on Tue, 01/25/2011 - 9:05am

Overit2, I do see your point, but I'm with Finey here. I think giving and sharing back and forth will be a nice little ice-breaker for the skids to meet the baby. I'm definitely going to push my DF to get on the ball with having the skids do/make something for the baby, so everyone is giving.

sixteensmom's picture

Submitted by sixteensmom on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 10:14pm

From skids to baby.... A photo album they can show baby and talk through. This is mommy and daddy and nana and poppy and this is my school and this is our house...

My boys each gave their baby sister a truck. They were her favorite toys.