Welcoming a new baby can be amazing. It can also raise big questions about how your daily life will change. You may wonder how a baby will affect your family.
There are a few things you can think about when deciding if it’s the right time.
If you’re the one who will be carrying the baby, make sure your health is in good condition. If you’ve had a baby within the last year, it’s important to recover. It’s a good idea to check in with a GP if there are any concerns. Think about your mental health as well as your physical health.
Think about your day–to–day life. What would a new baby change, and how do you feel about that? If you work, are you happy to take some time away?
Check you and your partner feel the same way. This is a conversation that needs to happen before planning for a baby. Don’t assume your partner feels how they did a year ago. Things change over time, so give each other space to talk about it.
If you decide to plan for another baby, keep checking in with each other. Share how you’re feeling and what you think will change. You can ask questions like:
For each issue, think about the positive and negative changes you might see. Talk about how you can manage them together.
A baby is a big change in the lives of any siblings. It can feel both exciting and scary. Once a new baby arrives, they may feel a mix of jealousy, protectiveness, anger or excitement. Every child reacts differently, and that’s OK. Make sure to talk to them about what will change and how they feel.
Think about how their ages, needs and routines vary, and plan how these will fit around a new baby.
It’s normal for change to cause a few family or relationship wobbles. Make sure you have people and places you can turn to when you want to talk through your feelings.
Sometimes that can be a good friend or family member. Or you might want to talk to someone who doesn’t know you as well. If that’s the case, you can try finding a counsellor or speak to your GP. You can also get professional support from relationship charity Relate.
This advice was written by our experienced Parent Talk coaches. Parent Talk is a free online service for parents and carers, provided by the charity Action for Children. For more advice, message our parenting coaches with our online chat.
