Home For Grown-ups

Emilia Becomes a Big Sister

On YouTube October 14

Emilia's Big Firsts · Story 5

About “Emilia Becomes a Big Sister”

A new baby comes home, tiny and LOUD. When Emilia feels left out, a big cozy hug and some big-sister jobs (gentle pats, whispers, and peekaboo) show her there is room for everyone.

Before the baby arrives, Emilia helps get her old crib ready and tucks in a teddy bear of her own. After the homecoming, the story is honest about what comes next: the baby cries loudly, the grown-ups are busy with bottles and diapers, and Emilia hugs Pip and wonders if there is still room for her. A big hug and a 'we love you so much' answer that question first. Only then do the big-sister jobs begin, from fetching a diaper to gentle pats, whispering at nap time and a game of peekaboo. The baby is never called a boy or a girl, so the story fits any family.

This story comes out on YouTube on October 14. You can read it below and print its coloring page now.

The three big words

swaddle
A cozy blanket wrap that hugs a baby.
gentle
Soft, and careful, and slow.
whisper
Talking very, very quietly.

Tips for grown-ups

  • Read books about babies and siblings together, starting before the birth. The AAP recommends it to help children get used to words like sister and new baby.
  • Offer small jobs like Emilia's, such as fetching a diaper, without making them a must. Zero to Three suggests inviting an older child to help while accepting a no.
  • Pause on the busy page and ask how Emilia feels. Zero to Three notes that many older siblings have mixed feelings, and suggests naming them, as in 'It's hard to wait while I feed the baby.'
  • Set aside a little time that's just for your older child, without the baby, as both the AAP and Zero to Three recommend.
  • Expect a little backsliding, and meet it with patience rather than criticism, as the AAP advises.
  • Practice soft pats and whispering on a doll, and say the two big words out loud as you go: gentle and whisper.

Talk about it

After watching, ask:

  • What did Emilia put in the crib for the baby?
  • What is a swaddle?
  • How did Emilia feel when everyone was busy?
  • What was her first big-sister job?
  • What game made the baby giggle?
  • What did the baby's tiny hand hold?

Try this together

Wrap a doll or stuffed animal in a blanket like a cozy burrito, then take turns doing big-sibling jobs: a gentle pat, a whisper and a round of peekaboo.

Free coloring page

Coloring page: Emilia smiling beside the new baby, snug in a swaddle in a little basket, holding her finger

Emilia the Big Sister: print it (US Letter or A4) or color it on screen.

Read the story

Mommy's tummy was round, like a big beach ball,
with a baby inside, still teeny and small.
Emilia pressed her ear to it. Thump! Kick! Hello!
The baby said hi with a kick of a toe!

They made the crib ready, Emilia's old one,
with a soft starry blanket. That job was fun!
Emilia chose a toy, her old teddy bear,
and tucked it inside. Big sisters share!

Then one sunny morning, the door opened wide,
and Mommy and Daddy brought the baby inside!

The baby was wrapped in a blanket, just so,
like a cozy burrito, from head down to toe!
That cozy wrap is called a swaddle. A blanket hug!
A swaddle keeps babies safe, like a bug in a rug!

The baby had tiny toes, and a nose like a bean,
the teeniest fingers that she'd ever seen!
Then the baby went... WAAAH! Oh my, what a cry!
Emilia's curls bounced right up to the sky!

Then Mommy was busy. And Daddy was too.
Bottles and diapers! So much to do!
Emilia hugged Pip, feeling little and blue.
Was there still room for a big sister, too?

Then two arms scooped her up in a big, cozy squeeze.
We love you SO much. Can you help us, please?

Big sisters have jobs! Here's the very first one:
fetch a fresh diaper. Run, run, run!
Next job: be gentle. Soft pats, just so.
Gentle means soft, and careful, and slow.

When the baby is sleeping, the next job is this:
to whisper so softly... and blow a kiss.
A whisper is talking so quiet and small,
like tiptoes for words. Shh... barely at all.

Then the baby woke up. Emilia knew a trick:
she covered her eyes... and opened them quick!
Peekaboo! went Emilia. Once more! Peekaboo!
And the baby went giggle! The baby liked it too!

Then a tiny hand reached out, soft as a feather,
and held on to her finger. Two hands, together.
A big sister! It's the very best job of all,
to love someone new, who's so little and small.

She's a big sister now! She did it! Let's sing,
and clap, and dance, and do the She-Did-It thing!

Then off to her chart, for spot number five:
a rattle sticker, for the day the baby arrived!
Five big firsts, done! Is she proud? Oh, yes!
Four spots to go! What's next? Can you guess?

Big words today! Say them with me!
Swaddle!
A cozy blanket wrap that hugs a baby.
Gentle!
Soft, and careful, and slow.
Whisper!
Talking very, very quietly.

Every big first starts out wobbly and new,
then one day you do it! Hooray! Look at you!
Next time, Emilia tries a new food! Bye-bye!

Questions parents ask

How can I prepare my toddler for a new baby?

The AAP suggests reading books about newborns and siblings together, letting your child help plan for the baby, and offering reassurance that your love won't change after the birth.

My older child is acting younger since the baby came. Is that normal?

The AAP says to expect a little regression and to respond with patience. Both the AAP and Zero to Three suggest regular one-on-one time, and your pediatrician is a good person to ask if it worries you.

Sources

Our tips follow these pages. They are general information, not medical advice: ask your child's doctor or dentist about your child.