Story theme
New-Sibling Stories for Proud Big Brothers & Sisters
A story about a new baby brother or sister works best when the older child — not the baby — is the hero: the whole point is to hand back the spotlight in the very week it feels like it moved. A new sibling turns your eldest's world upside down, and most of the classic advice fits inside one story: name the wobbly feelings out loud, give the big brother or sister a proper job, and rehearse the changes before they arrive.
A story can do all three at once — the hero notices the funny mix of excited-and-cross, is trusted with something real (choosing the coming-home song, teaching the baby the dog's name), and discovers that love in a family stretches rather than divides. Read it in the weeks before the due date and keep reading afterwards; the story casts them as the capable one by name, over and over, which is a different thing from a pep talk.
And when the baby is old enough to listen too, brothers and sisters can co-star in the same Wayfable adventure — up to 3 children in one story, at the same credit cost as a story for one, narrated. One tap sends it to their Yoto player, once a Yoto account is linked.
What a new-sibling story sounds like
A short passage starring Sofia. Your child's version is written fresh for them: their name, their world, all the way through.
Example story: 60-second read
The baby had been crying all afternoon, and nobody could work out why — nobody except Sofia. 'She isn't sad,' Sofia said, standing on her toes at the edge of the cot. 'She's looking for the mobile. It stopped turning.' Dad wound the little carousel of stars, the baby hiccupped once, and the crying stopped like rain switching off. 'How did you know that?' Dad whispered. Sofia shrugged the shrug of someone who had been paying close attention for exactly eleven days. That night she chose the lullaby, because big sisters know these things, and the baby fell asleep holding on to Sofia's finger — all five of her tiny ones wrapped around one of hers.
Read free stories about family → · Browse all free stories →
Parents also ask
How do families use a new-sibling story?
In the weeks either side of the birth, and more than once. The starring role goes to the older child just as the attention has shifted elsewhere: they are the capable big brother or sister, the mixed feelings get named out loud, and there is a real job in the plot that belongs to them. Rehearsal, not lecture.
When should we start reading new-sibling stories?
A few weeks before the due date is ideal, and keep going afterwards. Before the birth the story is rehearsal; after it, reassurance — and a request for the same story every night is a feature of this kind of book, not a failure.
Can both children be in the same story?
Yes — up to 3 children can co-star in one Wayfable story, and it costs the same credits as a story for one. Many families make the older child the solo hero first, then a shared adventure once the baby is old enough to listen along.
Is it really free?
Yes — 50 free text stories a month within fair use, up to 10 a day, plus 3 free trial credits at signup, no card needed. Credits are only for narrated audio (1–2 credits depending on length) and illustrated storybooks — £10 for 20 credits, or £7/month as a Founding Explorer.
Can the story go on their Yoto?
Yes. Wayfable generates the story, the narrated audio and the cover art. One tap sends it to their Yoto player, once a Yoto account is linked. No files to move, nothing to upload. Useful in the newborn weeks, when a story in a warm voice can happen even while your hands are full.
Tonight: their name, their story, their Yoto
Love it in text? Narrated audio uses 1–2 credits, and one tap sends it to their Yoto player once a Yoto account is linked: no icon to draw, no audio file to make, nothing to upload. Away from the player, a private feed puts the same stories in Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or Overcast. £10 for 20 credits, or £7 a month as a Founding Explorer, which includes 20 credits a month.