5 Tips To Avoid Sibling Envy

While sibling envy is a common part of a child’s development, unnecessary quarrels at home can grate everyone’s nerves. Read our article today for tips on how to avoid unnecessary sibling envy.

5 tips to avoid sibling envy

Sibling envy is a completely normal thing and a part of life. In fact, jealousy between siblings is classified as one of the stages of childhood development. It normally occurs between siblings when a new child is born into the family, and the older of the siblings is 2-5 years old.

Psychologists explain that sibling envy can occur in two different ways. The first way is that the older sibling envies the newest member of the family, the little sibling. Another option is for the younger siblings to be jealous of their older brother or sister.

The more typical of the cases is first mentioned, i.e., that the older of the children is jealous of their younger siblings. When this happens, the behavior of the older child often regresses to the level of the younger one, i.e., this one begins to behave more childishly than his or her age, as if imitating his or her younger sibling. However, such behavior tends to gradually decrease or disappear altogether as the parent of the children adjusts to the newcomer, grows, and learns new things.

1. Strengthen the emotional bond with both children

Before the baby is born, discuss the matter openly with your older child. Children understand much more than we adults imagine. In addition, it has been shown that homes with an openly communicating parent and equal treatment of siblings show less jealousy between siblings.

When a mother has a strong emotional bond with an older child even before the birth of a new baby, there is a lower risk that conflicts between her and the child will later arise from sibling jealousy.

2. Try to understand

If an older child is still very attached to his or her parents, he or she may need more support, as his or her independence and security may decline. Help your child with meals, spend a lot of time with him and play with him.

If you have a small child going through this stage, don’t automatically assume it’s jealousy. Instead, try to understand that the child is attentive and understands that he or she is now sharing your attention with another child.

3. Ask an older child to help care for the baby

Sometimes children are simply curious and just want to be involved in all the hustle and bustle that a baby’s arrival at home causes. For this reason, it is a good idea to involve an older child in baby-related activities, preferably before the baby is born. Talk to your baby during pregnancy about what everyday life will be like when the baby is born and arrives home. Also ask the child’s opinion on, for example, what color the walls of the baby’s room should be painted or what would be a good name for the little sibling. It is important that the older child continues to feel that he or she is an important part of the family.

Once the baby is born, ask the big brother to help with certain newborn care tasks. It is important that you spend time with your child just as before, but he or she must also understand that the baby is now an important part of your life.

4. Avoid comparing children

To avoid sibling envy, try not to compare children to each other. Many innocent comments about differences between children can offend an older sibling and nurture jealousy and jealousy between siblings. As children grow, focus on the best of both and teach both what their strengths and best qualities are. This is how they learn to define themselves in a healthy way.

5. Parental affection reduces sibling envy

When a new baby arrives home, home routines change completely, and the mother now has to take care of both the new baby and herself. As a result, the first days at home may seem overwhelmingly burdensome for the mother. During this time, the father must invest even more in caring for the older child.

In this way, the child learns to turn to his father when the mother is busy, which is a purely positive thing. It strengthens ties between family members and helps an older child follow their familiar routines with the help of their father. That way, the baby doesn’t feel like his or her normal schedule is being disrupted because of the new baby.

In this way, with the help of their parents, a parent of the children can also enjoy the arrival of a new family member. Treat children as equally as possible, pay attention to both, and give both times. Over the weeks and months, you’ll find that finding time for really important things is easier than you imagined, even if you have a small baby in the household.