You're sitting in the postpartum period, the baby peacefully asleep on your chest – and your three-year-old is just pulling the drawers out of the dresser. Know the feeling? The postpartum period with siblings is different: louder, more colorful, and sometimes chaotic. But with the right ideas, it can be a beautiful time for all of you.

Watercolor illustration in soft, dreamy pastels showing a cozy living room scene at golden afternoon hour, warm sunlight streaming through sheer curtains, a toddler sitting on a fluffy rug surrounded by colorful building blocks and picture books, a mother resting on a comfortable sofa nearby with a sleeping newborn, gentle shadows creating depth, peaceful domestic atmosphere, tender family moment, loose brushstrokes with delicate color transitions from peach to lavender to mint green

The Magical Activity Box: Your Lifesaver in the Postpartum Period

One of the best preparations for the postpartum period? Activity boxes filled with little surprises that you strategically place. Imagine: You're breastfeeding, and your older child independently gets an exciting activity box – without you having to get up.

What goes into a good activity box?

  • Small toys that are new or haven't been used in a while (the surprise effect counts!)
  • Laminated baby photos of the older child – showing them that they were once that small
  • Simple crafting materials: crayons, stickers, coloring books
  • Magnetic building blocks or stacking games
  • A special stuffed animal just for this time
  • Card games like Uno or Old Maid for quiet moments

The trick: Prepare 3-4 such boxes and rotate them every few days. This keeps the curiosity alive. You can keep one box next to your postpartum space, one in the children's room, and one in the living room.

Creative Craft Ideas That Build Connection

Crafting during the postpartum period? Sounds exhausting – but it doesn't have to be. The best craft ideas are simple, create little mess, and strengthen the sibling bond.

Watercolor painting in vibrant, cheerful tones depicting a child at a low wooden table creating a handmade card with finger paints and glitter, colorful art supplies scattered around, a baby bassinet visible in soft focus in the background, morning light creating gentle highlights, joyful creative energy, loose watercolor washes in rainbow hues from sunshine yellow to sky blue to coral pink, playful and warm atmosphere

Crafting Gifts for the Baby

Let your older child create something for the baby: a welcome card, a painted bib (with fabric pens), or a garland for the nursery. This gives them the feeling of being important and needed – not replaced.

Simple Postpartum Craft Projects

  • Fingerprint Family Picture: Each family member makes a colorful print – even the baby (with help)
  • Sticker Journal: Your child sticks a sticker in a notebook every day and draws what they experienced
  • Salt Dough Footprints: Keep the tiny baby feet forever – and let the older child help
  • Magazine Collages: A quiet activity where your child can cut out and glue pictures
  • Window Pictures with Window Color: Needs time to dry – perfect for several days of activity

Games That Really Work

Not all games are suitable for the postpartum period. You need activities that are quiet, able to be played independently, or require minimal effort from you.

Watercolor scene in gentle, muted tones showing a wide-angle view of a nursery floor covered with a soft play mat, wooden puzzle pieces and building blocks arranged in creative patterns, a preschooler concentrating on stacking colorful cups, natural light from a nearby window, peaceful concentration, soft shadows, watercolor technique with transparent layers in sage green, dusty rose, and cream, serene and focused mood

Games for Alone Time or with Minimal Help

  • Card Games: Uno, Old Maid, Memory – short rounds that you can play from the sofa
  • Puzzles: Age-appropriate puzzles keep them busy for a long time and promote concentration
  • Building Blocks and Duplo: Your child builds, and you admire from your postpartum spot
  • Role-Playing Games: Doll kitchens, doctor kits, shops – children can immerse themselves in their world for hours
  • Sensor Boxes: Rice, lentils, or sand in a tub with cups and spoons (Caution: protect the surface!)

Shared Quiet Moments

Some moments you want to consciously share with your older child despite the postpartum period. Quiet games near the newborn help everyone adjust to the new situation:

  • Blanket Games: Spread out a large blanket, and everyone cuddles together – baby, you, the sibling. Simple finger games, singing songs, or looking at picture books
  • Listening Games and Music: Short, simple stories like the Karlchen episodes calm and entertain at the same time
  • Reading from the Postpartum Bed: You read aloud while your partner carries the baby in a wrap – or the baby sleeps next to you
  • Just Snuggling Together: Simply being together without a plan – priceless

Books that Spark Sibling Love

Aged-appropriate books about siblings help your child understand their feelings and prepare for their new role. Reading aloud creates closeness – even when the baby is present.

Watercolor illustration in warm, nostalgic tones showing a close-up of a mother and child sitting together on a cushioned window seat, an open picture book about siblings resting on their laps, soft afternoon light filtering through lace curtains, gentle expressions of connection, a baby sleeping in a moses basket nearby, intimate perspective, delicate brushwork with transitions from honey gold to soft terracotta to pale blue, tender and loving atmosphere

Recommended Sibling Books by Age

For 2-4 Years:

  • “I’m a Big Sister/Big Brother Now” – shows daily life with a baby
  • “Conni Gets a Sibling” – familiar character in a new situation
  • “The Little Me is Me” – boosts self-confidence

For 4-6 Years:

  • “We’re Four Now” – honest about jealousy and love
  • “Forever” – poetic about sibling love
  • “Julius and the Nervous Bunnies” – humorous about sibling dynamics

Tip: Place these books in the activity box or read them together during quiet moments. Looking at them together creates space for conversations about feelings, fears, and anticipation.

Practical Everyday Strategies for the Postpartum Period

Sometimes it's the little tricks that make a difference. Here are a few proven strategies from mothers who have been there:

  • Maintain Regular Rituals: Bedtime stories, morning rituals – even if they happen from the postpartum bed now
  • “Baby is Sleeping” Signal: A small sign or lamp shows the older child when to be quiet
  • Exclusive Time with Dad/Grandma: While you cuddle with the baby, the older child does something special with another caregiver
  • Sibling Gift: The baby “brings” a small gift for the older child – a lovely tradition
  • Praise for Help: “Thank you for bringing me the diaper” – acknowledge even small gestures
Watercolor painting in soft, harmonious colors showing a bird eye view of a comfortable family nest scene, a large floor cushion arrangement with a mother reclining, a newborn swaddled nearby, a young child playing contentedly with wooden toys within arms reach, dappled light creating a protective circle around the family, peaceful coexistence, loose watercolor style with gentle color gradients from warm beige to soft lavender to pale mint, nurturing and safe atmosphere

The postpartum period with siblings is both a challenge and a gift. Yes, it will be louder and more chaotic than with the first child. But you'll also witness your older child's growth, responsibility, and a love that lasts a lifetime.

With the right engagement ideas, plenty of patience, and a pinch of humor, this time will become a special memory for the whole family. And if a day doesn’t go as planned? That’s completely okay. You're doing amazing – even if it doesn’t always feel that way.