You may be at the time in your life when you expand your family. Oh happy, happy, joy, joy! But you may be wondering how your other children are going to respond to a new family member. That's a very good question, and one that deserves special attention.

The news that a new baby is going to be in the house is going to prompt many interesting questions from your children. Don't be shy about answering them.

Here are some suggestions about how to handle the arrival of a new baby:

• Don't tell your children that they're getting a new playmate.
  Playmate may be true at some point in the future, but not for now. Don't give your kids any expectations that as soon as their little brother or sister gets home, life will become instant fun — because it won't be. Newborns don't do much to entertain, other than spitting up every now and then.
• Don't forget to recognize that your children are special to you, just like the new baby will be.
  Do something special. Give them a gift "from the new baby," or make them a special T-shirt so that they know they're still special in your eyes.
• Don't neglect your older children.
  Make an effort to do something with them after the baby comes. This activity is something you'll have to schedule. Having a new baby in the house can swallow up a large amount of time before you know it. Continue to share "dates" with your children.
• Give them an honest idea of what life will be like when the baby comes.
  Tell them that at first the baby will demand a large amount of time and that little brother or sister will mostly just cry, eat, sleep, and not a whole lot more. Also let them know that Mommy will be tired and will have to take naps to rest.