New baby board for big brothers and sisters: free printable

Who it’s for

Big brothers and sisters of any age who use pictures, signs or a talker, or don’t speak much, and are getting a new baby in the family: by birth, adoption, fostering, or a new partner’s baby. Toddlers who are becoming big siblings can use page 2 with a grown-up.

How to use it

1. Start before the baby comes. Read the board together and talk about what babies do: they cry, they sleep, they drink milk, they need diapers. Point to the words as you talk.
2. Practice meeting the baby with a doll, step by step, with page 2: wash my hands, quiet voice, sit down, gentle touch.
3. Put on a badge for the first meeting, with the baby’s name written on the line.
4. Model the feelings, the hard ones too: “I feel tired. Sometimes I feel left out too.” Let jealous and left out be said and answered, not corrected.
5. Keep the time-with-me cards where your child can reach them. When a card is handed over, say yes as soon as you can, and do it, just the two of you.

Every feeling is okay

A new baby takes a lot of a grown-up’s time, and an older child notices. A child who can’t say “I miss you” or “that’s not fair” may show it another way instead. The I feel and I need rows give those feelings words: jealous, left out, sad, look at me, time with you. When your child points to one, thank them for telling you, and answer: “You want time with me. After the baby’s bath, let’s read a story.”

Holding the baby

Holding the baby is a big moment, so keep it simple: the big brother or sister sits down first, a grown-up places the baby in their arms and keeps a hand underneath, and it lasts as long as it’s calm. Washing hands first is part of the routine. Ask the baby’s doctor or nurse about anything else, like visitors and when the baby can be held.

What’s on the PDF

The baby

• our baby
• crying
• sleeping
• milk
• diaper
• stroller

Talk

• hi, baby
• I love you
• look
• wow
• can I hold the baby?
• my turn

I can help

• gentle hands
• quiet voice
• sing a song
• bring things
• show a toy
• wash my hands

I feel

• happy
• proud
• excited
• jealous
• left out
• sad

I need

• a hug
• play with me
• look at me
• time with you
• quiet
• help

Meeting the baby

• wash my hands
• quiet voice
• sit down
• look at the baby
• gentle touch
• hold the baby, with help
• sing a song
• a hug for me

Time with me

• read a story
• play a game
• go to the park
• bake together
• draw together
• build
• bike ride
• snuggle

Printing tips

• Print the badges on card stock; a loop of tape on the back holds one on a shirt.
• Give a copy of page 1 to whoever looks after the big brother or sister while the baby arrives.
• For big feelings, the feelings board and the calm down choices board; for waiting for a turn with a grown-up, the wait card.
• Grandparents and cousins can use the board too: helping the whole family has ideas. If the big brother or sister is a toddler, read show, don’t test: modeling with a toddler.