You can plan the sweetest announcement in the world and still get a flat "I don’t want that". It stings, but it is also useful. Your child is not performing. They are telling you where they actually are.
Why this feels so big to a child
Children tend to hear change in concrete terms. Who will carry me? Will you still sit with me at bedtime? Will the baby cry? Will you leave? Their questions are usually about belonging, not about the baby itself.
How stories help in this moment
Stories help because they give your child a way to rehearse the change without being put on the spot. They can watch another child move through confusion, resistance, and adjustment at a safer distance.
What kind of story tends to work best
Choose stories where the older sibling is not unrealistically generous from page one. A child who needs time is much more believable and much more comforting.
What to say while you read together
I would use plain language: "You might like some parts and not like other parts", "You still matter here", "You don’t have to say the right thing". That kind of honesty builds trust.
How to turn it into a routine that really helps
Bring the story back more than once. Read it before appointments, before baby shopping, and after the baby arrives. It also links naturally to welcoming a new baby.
A simple way to start tonight
If your child responds best to seeing themselves in the picture, a personalized story can make the whole conversation feel less abstract and much more secure.