Books can be a great tool to explain the changes when a baby arrives. Learn some suggestions for the best children’s books about a new baby.
The twins were about to come any week now.
My husband and I had several months of preparing our three-year-old for the new additions. We explained a few changes he might expect, rearranged their room, and offered the reassurance that we’ll always love him.
Still, sometimes words can only do so much. So, as we usually do when our kids face complex issues, we turned to books. Because one of the best ways to explore this new change is to read children’s books about a new baby.
You see, older kids might “know” they’re about to welcome a baby, but the concept is so foreign to them, especially for young children and toddlers. Their lives are about to change, and hearing how other characters faced similar situations can help them understand what’s about to happen.
For instance, my son knew that he’d soon have two baby brothers, and that he’d be a big brother himself. We highlighted how fun it would be to take care of the babies, the things he’d get to do with them, and how much we’d love them.
We also mention the not-so-happy sides of welcoming a baby. That they’d cry loud, and often. That we’d feed and put them to sleep throughout the day, or that he might have to wait sometimes before we get to him right away.
Reading children’s books about a new baby was by far one of the best ways we introduced the topic of newborns and began having these conversations.
Your child might have lots of questions about your pregnancy or the arrival of a new baby sister. Ease her worries and confusion by sharing how others have adapted to being an older sibling and fostered strong sibling relationships. And reassure her of your unconditional love, even with her little sister arriving soon.
Below are plenty of books we enjoyed reading to our son, tailoring the language to fit our circumstances (e.g. “big brother,” “the babies”). Hopefully you’ll find the perfect book that can help your older child adjust to the arrival of a new sibling:
Children’s books about a new baby
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I Am a Big Brother by Caroline Jayne Church
Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford and Abigail Halpin
The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Big Brother Daniel by Angela C. Santomero and Jason Fruchter
You’re Getting a Baby Brother! by Sheila Sweeny Higginson and Sam Williams
What to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home by Heidi Murkoff and Laura Rader
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban
One Special Day by Lola M. Schaefer and Jessica Meserve
Bobo and the New Baby by Rebecca Minhsuan Huang
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
What Baby Needs by William Sears
I’m a Big Brother or I’m a Big Sister by Joanna Cole
Babies Don’t Eat Pizza by Dianne Danzig and Debbie Tilley
We Have a Baby by Cathryn Falwell
André The Best Big Brother by Mikaela Wilson and Pardeep Mehra
Get more tips:
- What to Do when Your Child Regresses Because of New Baby Jealousy
- Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Baby Is Possible—Here’s How
- Top 13 Black and White Baby Books to Read
- 7 Things You Should NOT Do with a Defiant 2 Year Old
- 8 Keys to Explaining Emotions to Your Child
Free printables: Want even more book ideas? Join my newsletter and grab the Read Aloud Book List! You’ll get hundreds of favorite selections to read aloud with your kids. Get it below—at no cost to you:
While we have not read books with our daughter yet about having a new baby in the house (the concept for her has been very abstract, so we’ve eased into it), we have read Peter’s Chair, by Ezra Jack Keats, and she’s really enjoyed and talked a lot about it, primarily because we’ve been setting up the baby’s room. She’s noticed quickly that “her” baby stuff was being reused and the book really helped her come to grips that sharing things that she was too big for with her little brother could be a rewarding thing.
Corie, thanks for mentioning Peter’s Chair; totally forgot about that one! I’ll add it to the list. Hope all is going well with your pregnancy 🙂
We liked “What Baby Needs” by the Sears’ and “Baby loves you so much” by Eileen Spinelli.
Hi Allison, What Baby Needs is another good one in addition to Baby on the Way (both by the Sears’). I haven’t heard of Baby Loves You So Much—thanks for the recommendation!