All the experts say books are a great way to help siblings prepare for a new baby brother or sister, but which ones are tried and tested? I quizzed parents to find out which ones worked and why. The age, race and gender of the characters affected many parents' choices. Parents also looked for books that reflected their child's interests.

Very young children might like Helen Fuller's board book My New Baby.

For those who are learning to read or reading, The New Baby from Usbourne First Experiences was suggested as firm favourite by child minder and stay at home mum to two girls Mrs Cherry, who says 'my 7yo loved the illustrations and felt the pictures helped her know what to expect. She also liked the format, easy sentences for children to read at the top and more detailed ones for adults at the bottom. I liked it because of an illustration showing the mum breastfeeding, usually bottles are featured in new baby books.'

My youngest turns 3 next week ....

Jed's developing into a solid lad with actual knuckles instead of dimples and the ghost of a jawline emerging through the cheek fat.  But he's still my baby.

Jed and his older brother, Ezra, are three years and two weeks apart. Thinking back now to how I treated Ezra when I was heavily pregnant, I get choked up. I was so focused on my bump and then my newborn, expecting Ezra to be a big boy - essentially to 'man up'. The realisation that he was as little as Jed is now makes me want to reach back through the years and cuddle his tiny frame.

'When you're holding a newborn, suddenly your older child looks like a giant!' says Fenella, mum of two.

But your Gulliver is still a Lilliputian and needs extra TLC as you both enter strange territory.