Hey, Mom and Dad: How Did You Tell Your Kids A New Sibling Was Coming?

Welcome to "Hey, Mom and Dad"—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area.

Telling your kids that your family is expecting a new baby can be an exciting and challenging conversation. For some children, the prospect of being a big brother or sister is thrilling; for others, it brings up anxiety and fear.

That leads us to this week's question:

How did you announce to your kids that they would soon have a new baby brother or sister?

Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section.

Jim Pedergnana: My daughter was 5 years old and starting to read. So we bought her a shirt that said Big Sister on it and had her read it to us. —on Orland Park Patch Facebook

Art Wiggins Jr.: Not difficult.... out of 8 kids only one had a complaint —on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch Facebook

Pat Fred: Not a human one, but canine and feline. And it went over pretty well. ; )  —on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch Facebook

Alex Garcia: We kinda told em when the belly was kinda showing...... There was a lot of crying and attenting craving from his part —on Chicago Heights Patch Facebook

Jamie Ruggio Hubbard: No matter what u tell them ur never prepared for all the questions. Our son is 4 and I'm 8 months. Everyday it's something new for him today he tells me he just can't understand how the baby will come out. Yesterday he asked me if the baby is a fish and the day before he said he is finding a new family he doesn't want to be a big brother. Soooo no matter how u tell them be prepared !!!! —on Tinley Park Patch Facebook

Holly Janotta: Let's see, I have four kids so I will just tell you about the last one. We waited until I was about 9 weeks to tell the kids. We gathered them in our living room and told them we had something to show them. I held up my ultrasound picture and asked if they knew what it was. My oldest who was 6 at the time knew right away. She was screaming, jumping up and down, and crying. My 5 year old was super excited too as was my 2 year old. I think the younger two were more excited because the oldest was. —on Tinley Park Patch Facebook

Katie Vander Weit Stoub: We talked to our kids about another child in our family before we started "trying". Then when I was actually pregnant we told them when we were around the dinner table. Then later on in the pregnancy we found out it was a boy. So we showed them the ultrasound pictures. —on Tinley Park Patch Facebook

Elise Siedlecki: we asked how she would like a little brother or sister and she got excited and said she would love it so we told her that she was going to be a big sister, every morning she would kiss my belly and say hello. my daughters are super attached to each other. —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Jen Meister: I sang a song to our 4 kids while my husband video taped it and you see the recognition appear on my oldest daughters face and then they all began screaming, they were so excited! —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Sheryl Simmons-Bonick: We wrapped up t-shirts that we had made....one said " I'm going to be a Big Sister" The other said "Im going to be a Big Sister Again" Our girls opened them, and read the shirts....they were excited!! But more excited when their lil sister arrived!! —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Cora Kernats-Umecker: I did the t-shirt thing too. She was young, but she understood. Then, when we were ready, we took a picture of her in her big sister shirt and posted it on Facebook. That's how everyone else found out. —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Now it's your turn to weigh in. How did you share the news with your children that your family was expecting a new member? Tell us in comments below.