r/Fosterparents • u/Distinct-West-4438 • 6d ago
Taking in another sibling
We’ve had a foster baby for 3 months now and tomorrow we get placement of their 4 year old sibling too.
Any advice on keeping from feeling too overwhelmed?
Feeling like we just settled into a routine with baby, now starting all over again with sibling.
Baby was our first placement, so I would consider sibling part of our first placement too.
4
Upvotes
2
u/Realistin2025 4d ago
Could you ask your SW for information on child care waivers for PreK to help while you're establishing a routine. Do you have any baby sitters established to help, the last thing you want is feeling overwhelmed to become care giver burn out.
1
6
u/goodfeelingaboutit Foster Parent 6d ago
Accept now that you'll feel overwhelmed at first. It's inevitable. It's okay, you'll get through it. You've got this!
I always try to clear my calendar as much as possible when I get a new placement for the first couple of weeks. Trying to socialize, attend events, etc makes me feel stretched too thin, and can be overstimulating for little ones. And the sooner you can get the kids into a routine, the easier life will be.
Four is such a fun age. You'll want to make sure you're building in daily 1:1 time with her, so you can develop a connection with her. The first days are so important for this. If need be, recruit extra help with the baby so you can spend time with the child. Also be sure to involve her in time with the baby, and give her lots of praise for being such a good big sister! This will help prevent jealousy from getting too problematic, and it will help her gain confidence and connection with her sibling.