Often second children are more capable of entertaining themselves than the first, for good reason. Capitalize on this trait. Unless the baby is crying or in immediate need, let your older child lead the show. Younger siblings often get dragged along to older ones activities, and they usually benefit from it. They learn patience, and they learn other skills more quickly with an older child to emulate.
Bedtimes can be tough when there s a baby to tend.
If daddy hasn t been involved in the child s nightly routines, it s a good time to start. Don t suddenly force daddy on a child who is used to mommy at bedtime, though. Just do what works let daddy entertain the baby until the older child is asleep, or put the baby to bed first while daddy reads to the older child. I put the baby in the middle and read to his sister while nursing him, then told her to wait while I put him to bed and hoped she fell asleep while waiting. When the situation is handled with sensitivity and fairness, an older sibling will usually react favorably to the arrival of a baby.