Bringing home a new baby changes everything for a toddler, and sometimes the funniest results come from a little one trying to make sense of it. One mom, just a week into life with her newborn, collected the best things her toddler said as he figured out what it means to be a big brother.
Mom and creator @amandatalijan shares the stories one by one, laughing as she goes.
@amandatalijan
A big brother with a plan
Her first story starts on the couch, where she is holding the baby. Her toddler walks over, pulls up his shirt and presses his belly button toward the baby’s face. When she asks what he is doing, he answers that he is trying to give him some milk. It is a very sweet idea and a very toddler way to go about it.
The next day she was burping the baby when her son spoke up: “Hey, Mama! Don’t hit him like that!” She explained that she was not hitting him but helping him burp, because he cannot burp on his own. Her son answered, “Oh, I can,” and then showed her with a burp of his own.
Milk, juice and a soda tap
While she was feeding the baby, her toddler came over with a request: “Hey, Mama, brother doesn’t like the milk. He wants juice this time.” She told him she could not provide anything other than milk. “Why?” he asked, which left her feeling, as she put it, like a soda tap.
Her toddler also had opinions at the dinner table. When his dad made a joke and Mom laughed, the toddler looked at his father and said, “No. That’s not funny.” Then he explained the rules of the house: “Mama’s funny, I’m funny, you’re not funny.” Poor Dad.
New sheets and a messy floor
Another day she bought new sheets, and her toddler wandered into her room and noticed right away. “Oh, Mama, is that new sheets?” he asked. She said yes and asked if he liked them. “Yeah. You bought that with your money?” he wanted to know. When she said she did, he approved: “Nice!”
Her last story is about records. Her husband was rearranging his record collection, so albums were spread across the floor. Her son came home from school, took one look and asked, “Papa! Who made this mess?” His dad said he did, because he was rearranging his records. The toddler crossed his arms and said, “You better clean it up.”
She ends on a sweet note. Her son is an amazing big brother, she says, and it has been an amazing first week home.
Why toddlers say the funniest things
Toddlers copy what they hear and apply it to the world as they understand it. Her son borrowed phrases that sound a lot like the ones grown ups use, such as “You better clean it up” and “You bought that with your money?” Then he used them in a brand new setting. That is part of how young children practice language and learn social rules.
Many of his comments also show how a toddler processes a big change. He was caring for the baby the best way he knew how, by offering milk, juice and burps. Those are signs of a child learning to feel included in the new family.
Helping a toddler adjust to a new baby
- Give him a job. Let your toddler fetch a diaper, pick the baby’s outfit or help sing a lullaby. Simple tasks make him feel important.
- Protect one on one time. Even ten or fifteen minutes of undivided attention each day can help, and it can be as simple as reading a book together.
- Praise gentle behavior. When he is soft with the baby, tell him so.
- Expect some ups and downs. It is common for older siblings to act out or want more babying for a while. That usually passes as the family settles into a routine.
- Supervise closely. A toddler’s enthusiasm can be rough without meaning to be, so stay close whenever the two of them are together.
- Talk about feelings. Let your child know it is okay to have mixed feelings about the baby.
Common questions about new siblings
Is it normal for a toddler to ask to nurse or drink from a bottle again? Yes, some older siblings want to try what the baby is doing. It is usually a phase, and offering a special cup or snack can satisfy the curiosity.
How can I make time for both children? Many parents try to feed the baby while reading to the older child, or save a short, special activity for the toddler during nap time.
Should I write down the funny things my child says? It is a nice habit. A note in your phone or a notebook will remind you of those first weeks long after they have passed.
The takeaway
The first week with a second child is tiring, and a toddler’s commentary can make it a lot more fun. Keep a running list of the best lines, because they will be gone before you know it. Someday your big brother may not remember offering the baby milk, but you will.
Credit for the original post goes to @amandatalijan on TikTok.