Big Sister & Big Brother Books: How to Prepare a Toddler for a New Baby

Once Upon Me · 2026-10-19

Short answer: talk about the baby in concrete terms, involve your older child in getting ready, read a big-sibling book together often in the last couple of months, and protect some one-on-one time after the birth. Tell them that mixed feelings are normal. A book where your child is the big sister or big brother makes all of this easier to talk about.

From “Becomes a Big Brother”: finding ways to help.

Before the baby arrives

Make it concrete. Toddlers don't understand “in March.” Try “when it's warm outside” or “after your birthday,” and show them their own baby photos so they can see what a newborn is actually like: tiny, sleepy, and not much of a playmate yet.
Give them a job. Choosing a blanket, washing a soft toy for the baby, or folding tiny socks turns them into a helper rather than a spectator.
Make big changes early. If your toddler is moving to a big bed or a new room, try to do it a few months before the birth so it doesn't feel like the baby “took” their cot.
Explain the hospital plan. Who will look after them while you're away, and when they'll come to meet the baby. Predictability matters more than detail.

After the baby comes home

Expect some regression. Baby talk, potty accidents or clinginess are very common and usually pass. Respond with patience, not worry.
Name the feelings. “It's hard when the baby needs Mommy right now. You can feel cross and still love the baby.” Children who are allowed to say the hard feelings tend to act them out less.
Protect special time. Even 15 minutes a day with one parent, with no baby and no phone, tells them they haven't been replaced.
Celebrate what big kids can do. The baby can't build a tower, ride a scooter or tell a joke. Your older child can, and the baby loves to watch.

What a good big sibling book should include

The best new-baby books are honest that babies cry and take up a lot of time, and that a big sibling might feel left out. Then they show those feelings getting easier. Look for:

A realistic picture of a newborn (tiny, sleepy, can't play yet)
A moment where the older child feels left out, and that being okay
A grown-up reassuring them that love gets bigger and doesn't get split
Concrete ways to help, and a first-smile payoff

A big sibling book starring your child

Our ready-made story “Mia Becomes a Big Sister” (or Big Brother; we'll call the hero Mia here, and your book uses your child's name) follows exactly that arc. It starts with getting ready together and Grandma staying over. Then come meeting the baby, the hard day when everyone's busy, Daddy's hug on the stairs (“Our love didn't get split in half. It got bigger.”), helping, special time, and the baby's first smile. A refrain runs through it: Big hearts have room for everyone. The baby is never given a gender in the story, so it works whether you're expecting a brother or a sister.

On Once Upon Me, choose Mode 3 → Big life moments, type your child's name, and pick girl or boy. The story is ready in under a minute, and the first pages preview free. Your child's name and pronouns appear throughout the 13 illustrated spreads. The book also has a dedication page, a “Meet {name}” page that can hold a photo of your child, a Certificate of Adventure, and a maze and colouring page at the back. It costs $9.99 for the PDF (emailed in minutes), $34.99 for a softcover or $49.99 for a hardcover, printed and shipped in 5–7 business days with the PDF included.

One honest note: the illustrations in the ready-made stories are pre-painted, so the child on the page is a friendly storybook character with your child's name, not a portrait of them. If you want the hero drawn to match your child's hair and features, or you want real details such as the baby's actual name, the school's name or the family dog, use Keyword Magic instead. Enter the details as keywords (for example “new baby brother named Theo, our dog Biscuit”) and a one-of-a-kind story is written and illustrated from scratch for the same price.

If you want the new baby in the book by name, or both children drawn to look like themselves, Keyword Magic can include up to four children as co-heroes. See personalized books for siblings.

Frequently asked

When should I start preparing my toddler for a new baby?

Many parents start talking about it once the pregnancy is visible, and step up the preparation, such as books, helping get things ready and explaining the hospital plan, in the last two or three months.

Is it normal for my older child to regress after the baby is born?

Yes. Baby talk, clinginess, sleep changes and potty accidents are very common after a new sibling arrives and usually pass within weeks. Patience and one-on-one time help. Speak to your pediatrician if you're worried.

Is there a personalized big sister book?

Yes. Once Upon Me's “Becomes a Big Sister” (or Big Brother) story uses your child's name throughout a 36-page illustrated book. It's ready instantly as a PDF for $9.99, or printed as a softcover ($34.99) or hardcover ($49.99).

Does the book say whether the baby is a boy or a girl?

No. The ready-made story calls the new arrival “the baby” throughout, so it works before you know, or for either. For a story that names the baby, use Keyword Magic.

Is a big brother book a good gift for a baby shower?

Yes. It's a thoughtful gift for the older sibling, who often feels forgotten when everyone brings presents for the baby. The PDF can be emailed the same day.

Once Upon Me (onceuponmebooks.com) makes personalized, fully illustrated 36-page storybooks for children aged 1–9, including ready-made “big life moment” stories for a new baby, the first day of school, moving house, potty training and a first dentist visit. PDF $9.99, softcover $34.99, hardcover $49.99 (PDF always included). Preview free.

Make them the big sister or big brother

Your child's name on every page of a gentle new-baby story. Preview it free in under a minute.

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