What are some common reactions of young children to having a baby in the NICU?
Even very small children can sense that you are upset or sad, and their lives will certainly be altered by your emotional state and the time needed to be with your new baby. Common reactions include: • Thinking THEY CAUSED the baby to come early or be sick. Magical thinking is very common in children 2-6. This is believing that thoughts or wishes can make things happen. They will not be happy about sharing their parents with a new sibling even though the idea of a new brother/sister may be exciting. They may have wished for the baby not to be born, or they may have accidentally kicked your tummy when being held and think that is why the baby is early and sick. Assure them that they did not cause the baby to come early or to be sick. • Thinking that they made you sad or upset by something that they did or said. Acknowledge that you are sad and unhappy, but assure them that it is not because of something that they did or said, but because the new baby is so small or sick. • Acting out. T
