Helena Bonham Carter on preparing son Billy for new baby's arrival

Actress Helena Bonham Carter expects her second child with fiance, director Tim Burton, this month, and the pair are busy preparing son Billy Ray, 4, for the new arrival.

He just turned 4, is in preschool, and we’ve gotten him a baby doll so he can get used to the idea. He’s already teaching the ‘baby’ that he shouldn’t swallow marbles.

When asked how she is feeling so close to delivery, the 41-year-old happily replied,

I’m a huge globe.

Source: Parade Magazine

How did you prepare your child for a new sibling?

Comments

I didn’t realize she was 41.

- j.b on December 15th, 2007

Hi there

I only have one child (my little lady Daisy-May) but was given this piece of advice by an old work colleague many years ago and I have passed it on many times and it seems to work….

The trick for introducing a new sibling is to make the older sibling feel like that have a job to do (you know how they love being adult!) so ask all your friends and family, when coming to meet the new baby for the 1st time, to make a fuss of the older child first and then to ask the older child if they will introduce the new baby to them. That way its quite an important role and the older child will feel involved. and also they will gets lots of fuss off people too! My 4 year old nephew, Eddie, just welcomed his little Sister, Isabelle, into the family and is reveling in being the introducer!

Hope this helps someone!
take care and good luck to everyone!
xx

- Loumin on December 15th, 2007

So, does the fact that she said “he shouldn’t swallow marbles” mean that she is having another boy?

Regardless of the sex, congrats…

Sarah’s note: She has said that they don’t know the sex.

- Linny on December 15th, 2007

Loumin is exactly right. I have three kids and I didn’t allow people to bring the baby gifts while visiting in the hospital. Each visitor was also asked to talk with the older kid(s) before cooing over the baby. For us it worked great.

- finnaryn on December 15th, 2007

Before finding out what sex the baby was I always referred to it as a “he” so I’m not going to read to much into that. There were tons of rumours that she gave birth Thursday to a little girl, but I guess that’s not true!

Sarah’s note: It could be true, they may just be keeping it private. She was definitely checked into the hospital Thursday and from what she said was either getting induced or having a c-section on Friday. Perhaps we’ll get an announcement on Monday. I’m not sure when the Parade interview took place.

- Mary on December 15th, 2007