My 5 yr old has been so sweet and has been playing with dolls for days as he waits for his new little brother. Just now, he tucked his baby in to his little crib he has for him. Then he piled 2 pillows on him. They covered the entire doll. Then he smiles at me and tells me he put them there so we cannot hear the baby. Ummmm...what? Where did he get this? I tried to explain to him that this would stop the baby from breathing. Then he is all shocked and , well, he is shocked. I explained again, nothing can go on the baby's face. He said what about a mask? Nothing? Really? Nothing? He is still digesting this idea, but oh my gosh! I am going to have to guard this baby with my life when he is born. Suggestions? Maybe when the baby is sleeping and I am not watching him (like the middle of the night) I need to lock our door or something? He will be sleeping in our room. I am worried now. I know ds5 loves the baby so much already, that is why he is playing dolls so much and rocking and singing to the dolls. But I am nervous now. I would prefer to not lock my bedroom door at night, are there books on this I can run out and get that are aimed at children this age?
I think that since you explained it to him it'll be ok, just watch him for a few days and see how he does. I see my boys sometimes playing pretend and doing certain things, but these are things that my children would never actually do to real people or things it's just pretend. Sit down and talk with your son about things that he will and will not be able to do with the baby and I'm sure everything will be ok.
I wouldn't be too worried. And I wouldn't worry about locking the door at night. When you first have a baby even the tiniest noise wakes you up for a while. Do you guys encourage yelling into pillows when your mad? Or Maybe watched Lilo and Stitch recently? I know Lilo and her sister yell into pillows when they are mad. Maybe he figured it helped with babies crying too? Now that you explained nothing can go over baby's face and you know he understands he won't do it because he doesn't want to hurt the baby. Maybe test him and ask what you should do if baby is being loud and crying. If he says pillows over the face just tell him thats not correct and tell him what you want him to do as the big brother when baby is crying.
I bet if you watch he won't do that to the doll anymore, but you can also play doll too and show him things like how you will hold the baby, and change the diaper and how you will put the baby to sleep.
You know that he wasn't being malicious. He's five; putting pillows over a baby to quiet the crying was logical in his mind. I wouldn't worry. You're not going to leave a baby alone with a five year old anyway. You'll be there to instruct him in the safe handling and care of an infant.
I also think you're getting all worried over nothing. It does make perfectly good sense to a little boy! Now, there's nothing wrong with keeping an eye open, especially at first. And, as well as learning that the baby needs to breath, he can also be lead to understand that Mommy NEEDS to hear the baby. You might put a hand over his mouth/nose (NOT long enough to panic him or anything) just enough for him to see that HE needs to breath, and so does the baby.
I agree with everyone else just watch him a few more days, play dolls with him, show him what to do when the baby cry's, I think it will be ok. Just watch and explain like you been.
