Colombian singer Maluma made headlines at the 2026 American Music Awards not just for his performance, but for a candid glimpse into his home life: he and partner Susana Gómez have a second baby on the way, and their 2-year-old daughter Paris already knows she is going to be a big sister.
According to Maluma’s account of the sibling announcement shared with E! Online, the conversation with Paris went well, and the toddler is reportedly excited about welcoming a baby brother into the family.
It is a milestone moment that millions of parents navigate every year, and child development experts say the way families handle that first conversation can shape how smoothly the transition unfolds.
Why The Timing Of The Conversation Matters
Many parents wrestle with when to tell a young child about a pregnancy, especially when that child is a toddler who may not fully grasp what “a new baby” even means. Child development guidance from the Child Mind Institute on preparing kids for a new sibling is clear on this point: “Telling kids about a new sibling early helps keep them from feeling anxious.” The reasoning is straightforward. When children are left out of family news, they often sense that something is changing and fill in the blanks with worry. Bringing them into the conversation early, even if they cannot fully process it yet, gives them time to adjust gradually rather than all at once.
For a 2-year-old like Paris, “early” may mean repeating the news in simple, consistent language over several weeks or months, using picture books about new babies, or letting her feel the growing belly so the abstract idea becomes something tangible and real.
What Toddlers Actually Need To Hear
Toddlers process big news differently than older children. They are less concerned with logistics and more attuned to how the news makes them feel in the moment. Experts recommend framing the arrival of a sibling as something the older child is a part of, not something that is happening to them.
Giving a young child small, age-appropriate ways to feel involved, such as helping choose a stuffed animal for the baby or singing to mom’s belly, reinforces that their role in the family is growing, not shrinking.
Practical preparation also matters. HealthLinkBC’s guidance on preparing siblings advises completing major routine shifts, such as crib transitions or toilet training, months ahead of the due date so that a toddler does not associate those changes with the baby’s arrival.
Behavioral Regression Is Normal, Not A Warning Sign
One of the most common concerns parents raise after a new baby comes home is that their older child suddenly starts acting much younger. Potty-trained toddlers may have accidents. Children who slept independently may want to be rocked again.
HealthLinkBC’s editorial guidance notes that if a child goes back to baby-like behaviours, wetting his pants, wanting the crib back, or wanting to breast or bottle feed, parents should not be alarmed, as many children revert to acting like babies themselves for a while and this phase will pass.
This kind of regression is a normal response to a major life change, not a sign that something has gone wrong. The most effective response is extra warmth and patience rather than correction or frustration.
Telling an older child directly and frequently that they are loved, and that the new baby does not change that, goes a long way.
Protecting One-On-One Time After The Baby Arrives
One of the most research-backed strategies for helping an older sibling adjust is also one of the simplest: protect dedicated one-on-one time with each parent, both before and after the baby is born.
The Child Mind Institute emphasizes that children benefit from this kind of individual attention, and that it should continue even once the newborn is home and demanding most of the family’s energy. Even a short window of focused, distraction-free time, whether that is a shared bedtime story or an uninterrupted stretch of imaginative play, signals to the older child that they still matter and still have a secure place in the family.
For celebrity parents like Maluma and Gómez, who balance demanding public careers with raising young children, carving out that protected time may require intentional scheduling. But the principle applies equally to every family navigating the same transition.
Maluma sharing this family moment publicly does something quietly valuable: it normalizes the idea that telling a toddler about a new sibling is a real parenting milestone worth thinking through carefully, not just a cute announcement.
When high-profile parents talk openly about these everyday moments, it gives other families permission to take them seriously too.
The research is consistent that early, warm, and honest communication with young children about family changes leads to better outcomes for everyone, including the new baby, who benefits from arriving into a household where the older sibling has been prepared and included rather than surprised.
