Family Interactions :
Sibling Rivalry :
Make time for the older child

Older children are often required to make many sacrifices when a new baby comes into the house - the attention given them is far less, the new baby is the focus of visitors interest, they must play quietly at nap time, they must share toys, and so on. This is a huge change for any child, and should be seen as such.

Make sure that visitors think to praise both children - instead of constantly talking about how cute the baby is, for example, they might say how much the baby resembles the older sibling.

Let the older sibling have his own space, and if the baby is always in his area, try to find ways to keep the baby otherwise entertained. Each child deserves his own privacy and time, just as adults do.

This tip was submitted by an anonymous visitor to our website.

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