How did/ will you handle second child jealously?

lorist202 · September 2011

....when the second child comes along?

As a FTM with a great and easy baby, I can't help but smother him with love.

Now, as DH and I consider getting preg again next year (kids approx. 2 yrs. apart), I worry about what it will be like for DS when he has to share the attention.

Lisa Frank · September 2011

I think it is dependent on age and the child, too. I worried a lot about jealousy, but at 2.5, my DS has shown very little jealousy and much more over-protectiveness of his baby sister.

And maybe it's just me, but I also think it has something to do with the sex combo of the 2 kids. I see my friends with 2 girls, and there is a lot of jealousy. Even a girl as the first born, followed by a boy, seems to equate to jealousy amongst my friends. The ones w/ boys first? Not a whole lot.

I guess my point is, don't stress too much about how your DS will react. You'll work through it and you'll have your bumpy moments, but he might surprise you as well!

Lisa102304 · September 2011

My older daughter has shown zero jealousy of her sister.

SCasey32 · September 2011

My Daugthers are 18 months and 1 day apart in age...
there hasn't been much jealousy at all because we involve our older daughter in EVERYTHING from feeding (she sits next to me while I nurse her sister and holds her hand, helps me burp her, ect.) bathing and changing her, and plays with her all the time.
We don't refer to our youngest as "the baby" we refer to her as "your sissy" so she feels attachment.

jeffrae · September 2011

I was worried. We bought DD1 a doll and gave it to her three months before DD2 arrived. It is a Corelle Premier doll. We put the doll in the car seat, swinge, etc. I have to say, these first 4 months have been awesome. DD1 LOVES and ADORES DD2 and helps out. They are 20 mths apart to the day. She sometimes says "my turn" when I am holding ava or changing her. But so far, so good! So it is not always a bad jealousy thing! :-)

Heather & Nayt · September 2011

We have had zero jealousy issues with DS and DD. They are 23 months apart and if he shows interest we include him in her care, but 9 times out of 10 he just does his own thing. I think maybe if he was a bit older it would be different, but I also try my very best to balance my time between the two of them. Also, I feel like sometimes I spend more time with him than I do with DD because he is actually more needy of my kids.

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