Birth of a sibling: effect on mother-first born child interaction

This study examined the effects of the birth of a sibling on the first born child-mother interaction. First born children-mother dyads were observed in a playroom setting at 12 and 24 months. At 12 months all first born children had no siblings born, while at 24 months a group of children had acquired a sibling. In general, the findings suggested that first born children who acquire a sibling before they are 2 years old show more dependency behavior to mother and are more upset during a free play session than their counterparts of first born children who have not acquired a sibling. Mothers of first borns with a sibling show a tendency to increase their attention to the first born, but exhibit less playful kinds of interaction. These results from a laboratory setting are consistent with the home observations made by others, and suggest that the mother-first born child interaction may temporarily become less playful and more strained after a sibling is born.