A social story for a new baby sibling

A new baby social story is a short, literal little book that tells your older child what will change when the baby comes: who will look after them during the birth, what babies actually do all day, and that they are still loved just as much. Big changes feel smaller when a child knows what to expect.

Below is an example you can read together, then ways to make it fit your family.

Why a New Baby Is a Big Change

To a young child, a new baby can feel confusing. Parents are tired and busy, routines shift, visitors come, and the baby cries a lot and can't play yet. Keep the bath routine steady if you can.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests reading children's books about newborns and siblings, being honest that the baby will cry and take up a lot of your time, and reassuring older children that they are loved (HealthyChildren.org).

A social story puts that into a short book about your own family. Carol Gray's criteria say a story should describe more than it directs (Social Stories 10.2 Criteria), so it's mostly "here's what will happen," with a few things your child can try.

Example: "Our New Baby"

Our New Baby

My name is Emma. There is a baby growing in my mom's tummy. Soon I will be a big sister.

When the baby is ready to be born, Mom and Dad will go to the hospital. Grandma will stay with me. I will sleep in my own bed.

After the baby is born, I can visit or wait for them to come home. Then I will meet the baby.

New babies are very small. They sleep a lot, drink milk and cry. Crying is how babies talk.

Babies can't play games yet. When the baby is older, we can play together.

Sometimes Mom and Dad need to feed or change the baby first. Sometimes I will have to wait. Waiting can feel hard. That is okay.

I can help. I can bring a diaper, sing a song or show the baby my toys.

Mom and Dad love me. They will still read with me and give me hugs. There is enough love for me and the baby.

Eight short pages, one picture each. Read it now and then in the weeks before the due date, and again after the baby comes home.

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How to Make It Fit Your Family

The example is a starting point. Make every page true for your child.

• Use real names and photos. Your child's name, the baby's name if you've picked one, the grandparent or friend who will look after them, and their own baby photos.
• Match your real plan. Who will stay with your child during the birth? Will they visit the hospital? Write the actual plan, and update the story if it changes.
• Be honest about the baby. Babies cry, sleep a lot and can't play. The AAP suggests saying this plainly (HealthyChildren.org) so your child isn't let down when the baby isn't a playmate yet.
• Name the feelings. A page that says waiting can feel hard, and that's okay, gives your child words for what they're feeling.
• End with reassurance. A page about something you'll keep doing together, like bedtime books, helps a lot. Only write it in if you'll really keep doing it.

Ways to Help Before and After

• Look at their baby pictures. Talk about when they were tiny and what they needed.
• Practice with a doll. Let your child feed, rock and "change" a doll of their own.
• Keep one routine steady. Bedtime, a walk, a weekend breakfast. Something that stays theirs.
• Plan one-on-one time. Even ten minutes a day with one parent, grandparent or other family member.

If you'd like a book with your child's own face and name in the pictures, you can make one at Storybook Studio. Totally optional. A stapled printout with family photos works just as well.

FAQ

When should I start reading a new baby social story?

Many families start a few weeks to a couple of months before the due date. Very young children have a weak sense of time, so link it to something they can see, like the crib going up.

What if my child is upset or regresses after the baby comes?

That's common. Keep reading the story, add a page about the feeling, and give extra one-on-one time. If you're worried, talk to your pediatrician.

Should the story mention the hospital?

Only in the way it will really happen. If your child won't visit, say who will look after them and when they'll meet the baby.

Can I keep using the story after the baby arrives?

Yes. Update it with real photos of the baby and your child together. Many kids like reading about themselves as a big brother or sister.