Preparing your kid(s) for a new baby's arrival

Who is Robyn Fidanque?

Robyn Fidanque is a high school biology teacher, youth life coach, certified childbirth educator, and doula. She is a mother of three children aged 3, 11, and 16. With a diverse background and life experience, she has developed a passion for supporting parents and children through education, awareness, and connection — creating supportive spaces where we can grow together with empathy and love.

A New Baby Changes Everything

The arrival of a new sibling fundamentally shifts an older child’s world in ways that can feel confusing and overwhelming. Changes include:

Divided parental attention
Increased household noise
New rules and restrictions
Altered routines
Visible parental affection toward the baby
Pressure to mature quickly
Confusion about what’s happening

These circumstances can trigger various emotional and behavioral responses — from clinginess and acting out to regression and sleep troubles.

A Personal Experience

The author recalls being seven years old when her brother was born. Initially resistant, she remembers telling her mother to “take him back” and feeling what she later recognized as fear rather than anger. She worried about unknown changes and disruptions. However, she eventually became her brother’s primary caregiver throughout childhood and adolescence.

Tips for Parents

Understanding potential sibling emotions is the first step. Parents can prepare older children by:

Involving them in baby-related activities
Reading sibling-themed books together
Practicing gentle interaction techniques
Establishing protected one-on-one time

The key is to anticipate what your child might need based on their personality, age, and current place in the family.

Workshop: Preparing Siblings for Baby’s Arrival

Robyn facilitates an interactive workshop exploring how to support siblings through this transition, explain changes age-appropriately, recognize emotional cues, and nurture positive sibling relationships.

The workshop provides space to reflect on what older children might experience during this family transition and offers practical tools to guide them through changes — emphasizing connection and presence rather than perfection.