Baby Kippy

Apparently it is common for an older sibling to go through a period of regression when a new baby arrives in the family. Typically this means waking up in the night or having accidents if they were previously potty trained. For Kip, that regression has looked like acting/pretending to be a baby and/or mimicking things that Ivy does. All of this is done for attention and it makes sense from a toddler point-of-view. 

If mom and dad respond when sister cries, well then I can cry too!

"Whaaaa whaaaa whaa." 

Oh look, they're looking at me now. It's working. Keep doing it!

The advice on the interwebs is to indulge the behavior rather than ignoring, scolding, or telling them they are a "big kid." I have mom guilt about Kip no longer being my baby and having less time to spend with him between Ivy and returning to work. So, I play along with him and enjoy the extra cuddles and coddling. 

It's been four months since Ivy's arrival and Kip will still play baby quite regularly and you can tell almost immediately why he is doing it. If Dan, Mandy, or I are praising Ivy for doing something or we talk about something cute she did...Kip will almost immediately do it too.

So here, enjoy some toddler-sized baby Kippy. Or as he refers to himself..."mama's baby."

 

 

For the most part, the behavior isn't bothersome and just a quick reminder to give Kip some attention. Other times it's obnoxious. Like when he spits out whatever is in his mouth because Ivy spits up so much and gets so much attention for it. Or, when he gagged himself by shoving his hand down his mouth because Ivy does that too. Ugh!

Anyways, I know this behavior will change eventually and I might even look back and wish for the time when he would toddle over to me like he just learned to walk and say, "look! it's mama's baby."