6 year old having anxiety about new baby coming?

Question

My 6 year old all of a sudden started to act very out of character. She has been really whiney and ignoring me when I talk to her. We are expecting a baby next month and she has been really excited and completely in love with the baby. The past few nights she has fought with me on going to sleep and wont sleep in her own bed, screaming and throwing herself out of bed on the floor. I rocked her in the chair a bit to comfort her, she fell asleep but as soon as I lay her in bed she freaks out. Her plea to get me to come back is she needs "just one more hug" and she's scared!!! I can't keep getting in and out of bed as I am 33 weeks pregnant. I resorted to letting her sleep with us at 11PM. My heart aches for her but my patience is running thin. I make sure she knows how much I love her forever and my love will never go away and the baby will bring more love for all of us. I still work 40hrs a week and I'm emotionally (and physically) busting at the seams. Help please?

Answer 1

Oh where do I begin I was in the same situation as you where my first daughter was 6 and she was fine with the pregnancy and the baby untill we started putting the crib together...... then it was all the sudden kind of real, like this is not imaginary anymore it really is going to come, then she started doing the same things your daughter is doing, almost resorting back to baby like herself, What I did is I started an advent calander made out cardboard and stockpaper, made it up for the last few week of my pregnancy, under each day I put a small piece of candy, or put read one extra book at bed time, so everyday "the baby" was giving her something , I also bought a baby to give to her when the newest arrived, so that she would have something tangiable at the hospital,  as long as you are letting her know that you love her, and that you still will after the baby is born, don't let her railroad you, she could try be playing on your emotions cuz she knows she can, make sure that her rules and her days are still the same as before, she will get through this, and so will you , my daughter is now seven sort of likes her baby sister ( the newness wears off fast!!) And is back to her old devilish self!! good luck!!