Sibling’s

Experiences
Judy Dunn and Carol Kendrick
(1982; see also Dunn, 1993),
studied how firstborn children
adapt to a new baby.
The study had shown…
 That after the new baby arrives, the mother devote
less attention to the older child; negligence.
 The older child may act difficult and disruptive.
 Happens when the older child is 2 years of age or older.
 "exclusive" relationship -- (Teti et al., 1996).
 Older children often resent losing the mother’s
attention.
 Animosity towards the new child is evident.
 Alienating the parents
Sibling rivalry
 thespirit of competition, jealousy, or resentment
between siblings.
 How can it be minimized?
• firstborn had secure relationships with both parents.
• Parents are advised to continue to provide love and
attention to their older children.
• Let the older child become aware of the baby’s needs
and let them assist in giving care to their new sibling.
Potential
Problems at
Birth
Childbirth does not always
proceed smoothly
Anoxia -- Oxygen Deprivation
 Entangled or squeezed umbilical cords during
childbirth.
 Usually happens in breech birth - a delivery in which the
fetus emerges feet first or buttocks first rather than head first.
 Placenta separates prematurely.
 Anoxia can also happen after birth.
 Genetic incompatibility between an RH-positive
fetus and an RH-negative mother.
 RH factor – a blood protein.
 First borns are not usually affected until it gives birth to a
RH-positive child.
 Can be prevented via Rhogam
 Children who experience mild anoxia are often
irritable at birth and may score below average.
 These differences gets smaller overtime and are
usually not detectable by age 7.
 Prolonged oxygen deprivation, however, can cause
neurological damage and permanent disabilities
e.g. negative motor skill proficiency, adult heart
disease…