We did a baby born from her little brother, so she could change its bum, feed eg while he did.

We bought our daughter a baby doll with nappies outfits bottle and baby bouncer chair

Perhaps you could give your first child a special book you are sure your first child will treasure and you can keep it as a treasure when he / she loses interest in it. Picture books will keep the older child/children amused while you are caring exclusively for your newborn. Perhaps buy a few and either introduce them gradually or swap them around so they don;’t get bored with one book. They may like a doll and doll’s bottle to feed the doll at the same type as you are feeding your baby. If the older one/s are interest in Lego or the younger age group one perhaps you could buy some more. Bear in mind that they must be kept out of reach of your baby until it is safe for him/her to pick it up. You don’t want choking or other injuries. Another option is some new toys, possibly developmental or educational ones. Perhaps the grandparents could give the older one/s something small too. Ask them to devote time to the older children too. Often everybody fusses over the newborn, they get ignored and they get very jealous. You certainly don’t want that to happen.

A babys card addressed to the child saying in it Congratulations Let me introduce myself I am your Sister/Brother and the new babies name in it also saying I am proud to be your Sister/Brother
With just a small care bear

At the time my 3 yr old loved colour changing hot wheels cars. So I found a colour changing car wash from an American store and had it shipped over for about $100 total (about a yr later I found it in Big W for $35!). Clearly, I didn’t think it through because he wanted to play with it as soon as his brother gave it to him in the hospital on his first visit…. it got a bit messy. But he loved the gift!

A special box of toys that you only bring out when breast/bottle feeding your newborn so the 1st child has something special to play with

Never did. I don’t see why they need a gift?

Doll for us to! Seems to be a popular idea letting them mimic you with their own baby. Might also deter them from being extra helpful with your real baby if they have their own

When I was expecting my second, we bought a baby doll and lots of accessories for it for her. She never had an interest in dolls before that(was 3yo), so it was a lot of practice and she pretending to take care of her baby a lot when I was tending to baby 2 in the early days. But I also took her to the toy store and let her pick her own gift and as well as her gift for the baby.

Oh I would love to hear what other people have done. It was a doll for us.