MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast hosts an educational and fun Super Siblings class each month in the Family Birth Place to help children prepare for the upcoming arrival of their new baby brother or sister. In preparation to assume her role as a big sister, Reese Louthain recently took the Super Siblings class.

"The Super Siblings class is a great way to get your child excited about the impending arrival of a new brother or sister," said Tracy Louthain of her experience with her daughter Reese. "In the class they discuss their feelings and what to expect when the baby arrives. Reese's favorite part was making a birthday card to give to her baby brother Dylan when he arrived."

Louthain went on to say that her daughter's involvement in her son's birth did not end there. The nurses at the Family Birth Place went above and beyond to make sure her daughter felt included. "Our care team waited for our daughter to arrive the next day to give her brother his first bath. What was even more impressive is that she actually let our daughter bathe him, dry him, diaper and dress him with just verbal instruction. She felt so empowered and needed--it was an amazing experience!"

The next Super Siblings class will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m. Entertained by music and special games, children learn how to care for and help with their new baby sibling while expressing their feelings in a positive environment. Children should be accompanied by their parents, and the cost of the class is $5 per child.

The Super Siblings class is one of the many community education classes offered to new and expectant parents by the Family Birth Place team at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. For more information or to register for the class, please call (850) 278-3600 or visit www.sacredheartemerald.org.
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