While my sister was pregnant with her son, her daughter who was 14 months at the time would climb up to give my sister a hug then started bashing her stomach. 2 months after my nephew was born my niece still thinks it's a game to poke him, cover his face with blankets and attack him (they're never alone together though) he already knows trouble is coming when he hears her but she is also very loving with him, she gives him kisses and cuddles. She just thinks he's a little doll for her.

My sister and I are 14 months apart, now 22 and 21. She will NEVER let go of something that happened, and she only has recorded proof from home movies, but she brings it up ALL THE TIME; when she was a newborn, and I was barely a year old, I would pat her on the back. Obviously this was learned from seeing my parents pat her back for comfort or gas and my own experience, but, as you know very well, little kids DON'T have the appropriate motor skills to temper their strength! To this day she says I was trying to hurt her or kill her as a baby! Be wary of how much you tell your story to your kids, Little Bro might just use it against his Big Bro, no matter how good their relationship in the future.

You're going to be pregnant for 18 years?!

Does nobody see that his behavior is not cute? He is hitting his mother, whether he understands it or not it's still not nice. He needs to be taught that it isn't acceptable to slap her stomach. Give him a light slap on the hand and explain to him why he shouldn't do it, he's young but not stupid. If you explain it he'll stop.

how about telling him that's not nice in a firm but gentle tone, he's not gonna learn otherwise unless you teach him, that's your job now not when he hits the baby not knowing it's wrong.

"It's going to be a long 18 years"? Are you NOT planning to teach him what he can and cannot do? Are you saying you're giving up on a 1,5 year old?...

Let's see. Tell him no and explain how it could hurt the baby. It is indeed going to be a long 18 years if something this simple throws you.

OK, even though I've been commenting throughout, time for a full follow up. 1. I am not an idiot that's letting my child beat the crap out of me. When he does get too hard, he is disciplined and shown how to be gentle. 2. I have not given up on teaching my child manners, not to hit, etc. It's going to be a long 18 years because they're brothers. They're gonna fight! My sister and I beat each other on a fairly regular basis when we were kids. It's what siblings do. 3. Thanks for ALL your posts! Some of them had me cracking up. And some had me a little scared for the poster or their (future?) children.

As a mom of two believe me it will be a looooooong 18+ not just 18

My professors in Nursing say that it is best to involve the first born child right from the start. Talking about the new baby, allowing the child to touch/rub the stomach, listen, etc. And when the baby is born, allow for the first born to help around with simple tasks, if they can (getting a new diaper, helping the parent change the newborn). My profs say it helps make the firstborn not feel like they are being ignored or replaced because everyone is so focused on the new family member, and it will help promote bonding between the siblings.