Isn’t it funny looking back over our lives how we remember particular events or conversations and they remain in our long term memory, for life? 

 I remember quite vividly a conversation from 14 years ago. It was with a client,  she was finding the transition from 1 to 2 kids challenging. I clearly remember her saying “No-one ever talks about the transition and how it is to balance looking after a newborn and toddler. They give you all the supportive information about how to look after your first, but nothing on how to help cope with the struggles of parenting two kids.” 


It’s so strange how when preparing for this interview, this particular memory popped back up and the conversation was as clear in my mind as it as 14 years ago. But something tells me, it’s because there is so much truth in this topic. 


All these years later, here we are, and I’m really thrilled to be having this chat today with our special guest Belinda Joyce.  


Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years experience. She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood. 


We ask Belinda questions including: 


1. How do you know when is the right time is to your child know they are about to share life with a new brother or sister? 

2. How did you personally manage the transition from 1 to 4 kids  when your children were younger? 

3. As a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years experience, what are the main questions and or concerns you have heard over the years from parents about to embark on the transition? 

4. Birth order can contribute to common differences in personalities, this is a larger conversation for another day, but I’d love to know briefly what your experience is with this?  

5. This conversation that parents are having with their child may be the first time they have to grasp the concept of a baby growing inside their mummy's belly. Understanding that each conversation needs to be age-appropriate, what are your thoughts on how much of the truth to tell?  

6. For some children, jealously can play a part in having to share their world with a baby brother or sister. Do you have any tips on how to help overcome this? 

7. Do you think a lot of parents experience some form of parenting guilt? 

8. Do you have any funny stories about the types of responses parents received when having this all-important, life-changing conversation?  

9. Children are naturally inquisitive. Have you found the simple question of “Why? “ be more common than any other questions? 

10. Having a new brother or sister naturally has a lot of benefits, have you found talking about some of these can help children understand a little better, in particular where children are having a harder time to come to terms with the changes? 

11. What can parents do before birth to start to prepare their child for the new baby? 

12. What about parents who are expecting twins or triplets. Do you find a conversation about multiple births is just as easy as a conversation about 1 new baby?
13. What can parents do after the birth of their new baby to include their older child? 

14. How can parents divide their attention between their two children? 


For Belinda’s full article please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/tips-for-transitioning-from-1-to-2-children/

For more information on Belinda Joyce, please go to: https://belindajoyce.com/