TinyStepper
Boy in star pyjamas hugging a teddy bear on a bed with a warm lamp and picture book

My Old Things Show and Tell

Pull out your toddler's old newborn vests, hats, and toys and look at them together — talking about how they used them, then deciding which ones to pass on to the new little one.

Activity details

2y–4y15 minslowindoorBasket or Bin

Instructions

Get ready
  • Pull out the box of saved newborn clothes and small items.
  • Sit on the floor with your child and lay them out one at a time.
  1. Pull out the box of saved newborn clothes and small items.
  2. Sit on the floor with your child and lay them out one at a time.
  3. Pick up a vest. 'You used to wear this. It's so tiny now isn't it?'
  4. Talk through what you used to do — 'I used to put you in this for bedtime.'
  5. Let your child hold each item. Don't rush.
  6. After the show-and-tell, say: 'Now we get to pick which ones the little one will use.'
  7. Hand your child a few items at a time and let them choose: 'For tiny one, or back in the box?'
  8. Put the chosen items in a separate basket — the 'sharing pile'.

Parent tip

Set out basket or bin before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

Open the box of newborn things you've kept and lay them out on the bed: tiny vests, soft hats, the rattle they used to chew. Talk through each one: 'You used to wear this when you were two weeks old.' Then together pick which ones the new little brother or sister will get. Your toddler is the one giving, not losing — that frame matters enormously. They become the generous one who's teaching the newcomer about the family.

Why it helps

Zero to Three guidance on involving older children in baby prep highlights the importance of letting the toddler 'help you decorate the baby's room, pick out toys, clothes, etc., if she is interested.' The old-things show-and-tell is the most powerful version of this because it positions the toddler as the experienced one — the one who has been here before and is now teaching the newcomer — instead of the one being displaced by the new arrival.

Variations

  • If your child wants to keep something, let them keep it without protest. The point is generosity, not perfect sorting.
  • Pull out one new item each week leading up to the arrival to extend the ritual.
  • For sibling pairs, do the show-and-tell with both older children, taking turns to hold each item.

Safety tips

  • Don't insist your child give up items they want to keep — generosity has to be voluntary.
  • Avoid items with broken or chewed parts that could become choking hazards.
  • If the activity makes your child anxious, stop and read a favourite book instead.

Want to try another?

Holding Hours With Mum

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