There’s a new baby on the way, a beautiful baby brother or sister to join your family. It’s an exciting time for your whole family, but your toddler might be a little nervous or confused about the change. If your little one is about to become a big brother or sister, prepare them for the changes ahead using baby dolls. Through communication and role-play your child can learn good sibling behavior and practice gentleness. Plus, baby dolls are a great way to help children get ready for the new baby by building excitement for their new role as they interact with bay doll as they would with their soon-to-be sibling.
Through pretend play they can learn to care for a baby, develop nurturing skills, and feel more confident about the upcoming changes in your family dynamic. Here are some sibling transition tips to help prepare big brother or sister for the new arrival using Lullababy dolls.
Teach Caregiving with Nurturing Play
Baby dolls allow children to imitate the tasks they will see you do with their new sibling. Whether it’s feeding, rocking to sleep, or taking the baby for a walk, your child can start practicing these nurturing skills before their little brother or sister arrives.
The LullaBaby Baby Doll Nursery Playset is ideal for creating this kind of experience. It includes a playpen, high chair, and jogger stroller, giving kids a chance to set up their own baby doll nursery right next to yours.
When their new little sibling arrives, kids can follow in your footsteps when it comes to caring for the latest addition to the family. From pretending to feed their doll in a high chair while you feed your newborn or pushing their doll in their stroller when you’re out for a walk, the possibilities are endless. This kind of hands-on role-playing not only helps kids understand what it means to care for a baby but also fosters a sense of responsibility and empathy instead of jealousy.
Encourage Good Sibling Behavior through Play
Incorporating baby dolls into everyday activities helps children feel involved in their sibling’s care. For instance, when it’s time for your baby’s nap, your child can lay their doll in the LullaBaby Rocking Bassinet and gently rock it to sleep. This helps them practice being calm and gentle, while also feeling like they’re participating in the daily routines of new baby. Having their own “baby” to look after makes the transition easier, giving them a sense of stability as family routines shift to accommodate their new sibling.
It also means your older child won’t feel left out of these important routines, which can help reduce sibling jealousy.
Build Confidence with Interactive Play
When big changes are happening, it’s common for toddlers to need reassurance and comfort. Dolls can provide this emotional support. The LullaBaby Baby Doll & Cuddler Set is perfect for this—its soft, cozy design makes it ideal for snuggling. Your child can practice comforting their doll when it’s fussy, learning how to be gentle and caring. This helps children feel more confident and prepared to offer similar care and comfort to their new sibling.
Being gentle with baby doll teaches them to be gentle with their younger sibling. That means baby doll play isn’t just fun—it promotes emotional resilience and teaches little ones to navigate new feelings with compassion and care.
Foster Kindness and Empathy
Baby dolls provide children with a valuable opportunity to practice empathy and kindness. As they care for their doll, they learn about being patient, gentle, and nurturing—all essential qualities in big siblings. The LullaBaby Care & Feeding Set is a great way to enhance this learning. It includes everything your child needs to look after their doll during mealtimes, including a bib, bottle, and even a little bowl of oatmeal. Through this nurturing play, kids can better understand their baby sibling’s needs and feel more prepared to help when the time comes.
Not all sibling transition tips will work for your family, but it’s important to try things out and see what clicks. Anything that can make growing your family easier is worth the effort.
Welcoming a new sibling can be both thrilling and daunting for young children, but baby dolls can help ease that transition. Through playful routines and nurturing care, your child will feel involved and included in this exciting time and can develop the skills and confidence needed to welcome the new family member.
If you’ve used baby dolls or any of these sibling transition tips to help welcome a new sibling, let us know in the comments. Or, if you’re looking to connect with fellow parents, the LullaBaby Instagram is full of kind-hearted families and the LullaBaby newsletter is sent out by kind-hearted baby doll lovers.