Expecting another child can be both exciting and nerve-racking. Many parents feel more confident the second (or third) time around as they have already experienced the birthing process, the challenges of caring for a newborn and the inevitable sleep deprivation. However, there’s also a new layer of complexity around balancing the needs of an older child or children while caring for a newborn.
Research has found that for most parents, balancing the needs of their first-born with those of a new baby can feel overwhelming. As developmental and clinical psychologists, we hope to provide information and resources for parents on how they can cope with this transition and help prepare their older children to adjust. No one’s 20s and 30s look the same.
You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand child care. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.
How children react Children tend to show a variety of reactions when welcoming a new sibling. Some may feel very excited and embrace their sibling with a lot of affection, while others may experience mild, moderate or intense feelings of jealousy. Often, when a child feels jealous, it can lead to acting-out behaviours such as temper tantrums or crying.
Many children also show a mixture of these scenarios, feeling both curious and unsure. An older siblin.