Personalised book about baby crying at night sibling

What happens in your child's New Sibling Sleepover

1. Baby comes home for their first night
2. A small cry is heard after bedtime
3. Your child misses the usual quiet routine
4. A grown-up shares the familiar bedtime story
5. Your child says goodnight, feeling included and loved

How the first page could read

On the first night Baby came home, your child tucked their favourite soft toy beneath the quilt. Then, from down the hall, came a tiny cry: “Waaah.” Mum checked on Baby while Dad sat beside your child. “Shall we do our usual bedtime story?” he asked. Your child nodded, holding the book close.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

The first nights with a new baby can sound and feel unfamiliar to a child who is used to a settled bedtime. This story gives 3–6-year-olds a gentle, recognisable way to talk about hearing a baby cry, wanting a parent nearby and wondering whether their own routine still matters. Rather than asking your child to be endlessly helpful, the story keeps the focus on their need for reassurance and a familiar goodnight. Their photo makes them the central character across a 32-page book, while age-appropriate wording leaves space for parents to pause, chat and share their own family’s bedtime plan.

Reading it together

• Read it before the baby arrives, then return to it during the first few evenings at home.
• Pause when your child hears the cry and ask what sounds they think babies make when they need help.
• Finish by naming one part of your child’s usual bedtime routine that will stay the same.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft storybook watercolour suits the dim lamps, bedtime cuddles and gentle nighttime scenes. A sidekick idea: a sleepy stuffed rabbit. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.