Introducing your child to number two 
Your new baby has arrived and youre thrilled but dont be surprised if your first child isnt as excited as you are - here are nine ways to speed up the sibling bonding him in the homecoming

If you've had a hospital birth, make sure your older child either comes to help collect you or is busy at home helping with the preparations. If he's staying at Grandma's house, it may make him feel left out & pushed aside.

Make a fuss of your older child; Your new baby will probably be showered with gifts and attention, so keep a close eye on the older one to make sure he's not feeling left out.  Include him in the celebrations by buying 2 presents in advance, one for the baby to give to her brother or sister, & one for your older child to give to the baby. You could also ask friends & family to spend some time chatting to your toddler before they rush to coo over the baby, all my friends bought him a big brother present.

Make being older an advantage; Show your child advantages of being the oldest by talking to him about all the things you'll be able to do together. Beware of saying things like: ""you're the big one now"", because your child will probably want to be a baby again. Instead of pushing him into a role he doesn't want, try to let him become babyish, and make sure you give him extra cuddles & reassurance.

Let him help you: An older child will be able to help you care for the baby in lots of ways, for example,  helping at bathtime,  singing to him when he needs soothing, bringing you the baby wipes. Most children love 'helping' Mum out like this, but be careful not to force responsibility on him, when he says he doesn't want to, be cool about it.

Reinforce the positive: Naturally you'll feel protective of your tiny baby & want to keep her away from a boisterous toddler. But rather than continuously telling your child not to do things, try to phrase any cautions in a positive fashion, so he doesn't become resentful. Instead of saying, ""Don't shout! You'll wake the baby,"" for example, gently suggest that you both whisper while the baby sleeps.

Give your child some one-to-one: As often as you can, give him some special time on his own with you so that he still has your attention. This will make a big difference to the way he accepts his brother or sister. You can also try to include him while you do things with the baby.

Get them bonding: Even if your baby doesn't notice her brother at first, you can help the older one feel that she likes him. For example, when the baby smiles, say, ""Look she's smiling at you! Aren't you clever?"".

Anticipate jealousy: However well you prepare your child, you need to accept that there will be times when he rebels. The average age gap between first and second children is 34 months, which means most first-born children are at that toddler tantrum stage when the new baby arrives. Jealousy often occurs when the baby is old enough to be at threat to the older one. To help prevent this, you can agree with your child that yes, the baby can be a nuisance sometimes.

Reap the benefits!: As your first child gets to know his younger sister, he may display a new side to his character that you never knew he had by becoming very protective of his new sibling. He'll also learn useful social skills, such as sharing and turn-taking, which will stand him in great stead at daycare or school. And perhaps most importantly in years to come, this new baby may grow up to be your child's best friend!"