Your 3 year old will accept anything you tell him and therefore you can tell him that you have a delightful surprise for him: he will be having a new brother or sister! Most children are very happy to have a new baby in the family - at least until the newcomer starts grabbing their toys away. But learning how to get along with a sibling is an important part of growing up. "Only" children lose out on this. They are often more self-focused and may have more trouble later on when it comes to forming their own families. For instance, some "only" children have trouble sharing a spouse with their own kids. Most psychologists agree that having siblings is GOOD for development and in no way deprives a child of something he needs. Not only do children NOT need undivided parental attention for twenty developmental years, but in fact, they may be harmed by it. Being the only source of parental pride can put undue pressure on a child. The child also lives under a microscope to a certain extent, since the parents can devote ALL of their energy to him. When the parents get older, all of the responsibility for their care falls directly on the one child, who faces that responsibility without the practical and emotional support of siblings. So you can see, there are many reasons why your child will actually benefit from this change in circumstances. As for sharing your love, don't worry: parents have a magical ability to love many children. Parents of a dozen children can love each one as much as they loved their very first child. Love multiplies when it is divided. There is no way for you to really believe this until you experience it. All first-time parents worry that they won't be able to love their second child nearly as much as the first or that they won't be able to parent two or more children properly. However, when children are added to the family, parents experience a different reality altogether. So, just give birth in the right time and let everything fall into place naturally. After you're enjoying your second child, write again to let me know!   Sarah Chana

I agree wholeheartedly! I have four beautiful children and I love them all so much. They play with each other (and sometimes they fight) but they are real siblings. We're a real family and it's so much better than when there was only one.

My 5 year old wants a new baby so badly and we've been trying to have one for the past 3 years with no luck at all. I'm worried that if I do get pregnant in the future the new baby will be too young for my daughter to really enjoy. I think you should be grateful that your little boy will soon be having a playmate.