Sibling Fun: What to Do When Baby’s on the Way

New Jersey mom Stacy Canzonieri will be welcoming a new baby to the house this March—and her preschooler will become a big sister. Canzonieri has been preparing her daughter for the changes: "First and foremost, I'm talking to her about what will be coming, how she'll be a big sister, and what a big responsibility that will be," she says.

But before the big day, Canzonieri wants to create a few more memories with her child and is even planning a vacation so that her family can have some special time together.

Like many moms, Canzonieri wants to make time with her older child before the younger one arrives and their family dynamic changes forever. Yet making memories with your youngster doesn't have to involve travel or even spending a lot of money.

Here are some simple, fun activities to try with your toddler or preschooler before your newborn arrives. (They're also great for spending some special time with your older child after the baby is born or to keep him busy while you nap or nurse!)

Activities for Two

Sibling Baby Book
Go through your child's baby pictures and paste them onto sheets of thick cardstock paper (cutting the paper in half before you begin makes the project more manageable). Let your child draw pictures around the photos. Add captions like, "Sarah's first meal" or "Jason coming home from the hospital." Laminate and bind the book at a copy shop or office superstore. Remind your child that he was once a baby, too—and you have the pictures to prove it!

Kid-Sized Art Supplies
Look for thick crayons, markers, and brushes that are easy for your child to grasp and use when creating fun works of art. You may also want to laminate and bind some of her artwork, or have her make pictures to frame and display in her new baby's nursery.

Little Chefs
Bake simple treats like muffins or cookies with your preschooler, or order cooking kits online or from cooking retailers. Sarah McGinley-Smith, spokesperson for King Arthur Flour, recalls making pretzels with her daughter, then two, when she went into labor with her second child. McGinley-Smith recommends her company's Kids and Cookies Kit, which includes everything you need—a kid-sized rolling pin, a sturdy cookie cutter, cookie mix, icing packet, and even animal-shaped sprinkles.