Does my toddler understand I’m pregnant??

Life with a toddler, Pregnancy, Second pregnancy
baby bump at 15 weeks - does my toddler understand I'm pregnant
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Toddler H is now 2, and full of beans, she’s constantly full of new words and sentences, understanding most of what we say. She doesn’t stop, and it’s hilarious. She just copies what we say and so I’ve long given up on listing new words. Along with her new words, she loves pretend play. And that really has?brightened me in my early-pregnancy-tiredness. However it is her understanding of me being pregnant that I really love. We waited until 12 weeks to tell H for fear of her blabbing it to everyone, or pointing at my tummy saying baby. Lucky we did, although she’s not blabbed outside yet, she does kiss my tummy, say “sorry baby” if she climbs on me, and she does seem to understand something. I say that with the odd exception of lifting her own top and pointing at her tummy saying “baby!” or doing that when my mum asked where baby was… or when I asked (meaning where’s your dolly)!

The best part of all? She thinks baby is my tummy button ? if she can’t see it when she lifts my top, she gets upset repeating “oh no! Baby! Oh no, no baby! Baby gone!“, I show her my tummy button and she points, proclaiming “baby!!” “Oh baby.” Often she’ll then stroke ‘baby’ or on one occasion gave ‘baby’ a kiss ?

So, no I’m not certain she understands, but it definitely helps my pregnancy fog and my going-through-the-motion-days where I put a film on or iPlayer on repeat. I feel terrible about these things, but it’s the only way. I need an hour after lunch to collapse. In saying that, I really love having a toddler and being pregnant. I think it’s her funny understanding of the world and of ‘baby’ that makes my day. It’s her smile. Her heartfelt “sorry baby” stroking my tummy button that makes my heart melt, it’s her silly dances and her laugh that make me smile through the fog. Above all, it’s those heartfelt caring?moments that make me see she will be a brilliant big sister, and I feel relief that we are doing what we’re doing.

I’m also kind of hoping that she might understand slightly more come January, when one of her best friends’ becomes a big brother. I’m trying to tell her how his mummy has a baby in her tummy and “mummy’s tummy will get bigger like her’s too”. I’m not so sure she understands that, but I hope come January, when my tummy is indeed bigger (it’s growing like crazy at the moment!), it might make more sense. It might also make sense to her that her friend’s mummy will suddenly no longer have a?bump, but a baby instead. She does seem to love babies, and once tried to drag me to her friend’s baby sister who had started crying. In saying all that I’m not sure any of us will truly understand until our little baby arrives safely, we pray, in 6 months time. That reality of the unknown is so hard to comprehend. I see so many friends with newborns and toddlers, and some with baby’s and toddlers, and they are all absolutely totally and utterly amazing. They are super mums. Not even I understand how I’ll cope juggling a toddler and a newborn, so I guess I can’t expect a toddler to understand too much either. She definitely won’t understand the impact on her, or her ability to drag me from room to room on her whim saying “come on mummy“. I’m afraid she has to make the most of those moments now, and so do I.

 

So, to answer my question, does my toddler understand I’m pregnant? Yes, and no! But, I think as she’s only just turned two (24 months old), she’s going to pick up so much more over these next few months anyway. Like a sponge, she will pick up more and more and her understand will astound us. Hopefully she’ll also decide she doesn’t need to have too many tantrums too!
I have to end with my relief at having a toddler during my second pregnancy. It’s been her funny toddler-take on me having a baby in my tummy that has made me laugh in my tiredest moments. These are the moments that make my day, my tiredness dissipates, and I love being a stay at home mummy.

 

Did you find your toddler understood you were pregnant?

 

Lynne xx

 

Linked to #bestandworst?#coolmumclub #BloggerClubUK

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8 Comments

  • Reply
    Lisa
    December 14, 2016 at 10:12 am

    I remember my eldest kissing my tummy when I was pregnant with number 2. She was the same age as your little one. She most definitely understood she was getting a baby brother or sister and was not happy about it at all, she made her displeasure known by peeing on the nursery carpet. Will still laugh about it now and she is 13! #bestandworst x

  • Reply
    Busy Working Mummy
    December 14, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    It must be so hard trying to get them to understand! I only have the one and he is 2. I cant imagine him understanding if my tummy got bigger that there was a little baby inside! #bestandworst

  • Reply
    Fi - Beauty Baby and Me
    December 15, 2016 at 8:00 am

    Ah this is such an exciting time chick and it’s so lovely that you can share it with H! I think her innocent and loving understanding sounds perfect xx #coolmumclub

  • Reply
    Sarah
    December 15, 2016 at 12:48 pm

    My girly did but wasn’t really interested in the bump until the kicks and she felt them. She was really understanding of my struggles to play all her games at the end, and brought everything to me. She sounds sooo cute and lovely. You’ll be fine. It’s harder second time around but you do it!! Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst xx

  • Reply
    Talya
    December 15, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Oh she thinks the baby is your tummy button how ridiculously adorable – it must be such a hard concept to grasp when they aren’t only beginning to comprehend the world about them bless them. Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xx

  • Reply
    MMT
    December 15, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    So cute…I’m trying to remember how Tigs felt about my pregnancy? One thing I do remember well, is that she suddenly seemed SO grown up once baby had arrived…so make the most of your outside the tummy baby while she’s still your baby 😉
    Thanks for linking to #coolmumclub lovely – and have a fab Christmas!
    MMT recently posted…#coolmumclub Linky week 51; The Christmas party!My Profile

  • Reply
    Crummy Mummy
    December 20, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    I’m 33 weeks pregnant and my toddler definitely doesn’t understand – he’s going to get a shock when the baby arrives! #bestandworst
    Crummy Mummy recently posted…Why I don’t want to see anyone this ChristmasMy Profile

  • Reply
    Living with littles
    January 8, 2017 at 12:48 am

    Roo was only 14months when Eli showed up. He did not understand me being pregnant and he did not understand or like the new baby. But he grow on him quickly and he now (mostly) loves him 🙂

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