A nurse is teaching the guardian of a newborn about how to prepare their 3-year-old child to meet their new sibling. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

The correct answer is Choice A.Choice A rationaleProviding a doll for the 3-year-old child to imitate parental behaviors helps the child understand and adjust to the new role of being an older sibling. It allows the child to practice nurturing behaviors and can reduce feelings of jealousy or displacement by involving them in the care of the newborn.Choice B rationalePreparing the child for a change in all of their routines can be overwhelming and may cause unnecessary stress. It is more effective to maintain as much consistency as possible in the child’s routine while gradually introducing changes related to the new sibling.Choice C rationaleTelling the child that they will now have a new playmate may create unrealistic expectations. A newborn is not immediately capable of playing, and this statement may lead to disappointment and frustration for the 3-year-old.Choice D rationaleWaiting for the newborn to come home before moving the 3-year-old from the crib to a bed can create a sense of displacement and jealousy. It is better to make this transition well before the newborn’s arrival to allow the older child to adjust to the change independently of the new sibling.