The only child in the family: pros and cons

| April 23, 2021 | home and family

It is believed that an only child in a family grows up to be more selfish than one with siblings. People believe that such children become too spoiled, lonely, and do not know how to find a common language with other people. But it should be noted that older brothers and sisters can both help the baby develop and become the worst nightmare for him. Having a sibling can make your child’s life more fun, but at the same time, he can set bad examples for him. There are actually many pros and cons to being an only child. So let’s take a look at some of the main advantages and disadvantages of this kind of family structure.

Many parents fear that their only angel will grow up without normal communication with other children. Because it will be difficult for him to communicate with people in adulthood. In fact, this is not the case. Some children already at their young age communicate quite normally with adults, and have good relations with their families and friends.

Pros of being an only child

  • He gets all the love and attention of his parents.
  • They spend all their money on it.
  • The only child receives more toys than usual.
  • He can only grow up to be more independent if his parents do not spoil him as a child.
  • He does not have to meet the standards of older siblings.
  • It will be easier for a father and mother to save money on education.
  • It will be easier for him to communicate with adults.
  • The only child in the family will receive all the inheritance of the parents.

Minuses

  • He may develop Little Emperor Syndrome. This is a situation in which mom and dad spend their love, attention and resources on only one baby. As a result, he becomes spoiled and overly selfish.
  • The child gets used to the fact that his parents do everything for him.
  • He may lack self-confidence.
  • Lack of help from older siblings can put too much pressure on parents and cause conflicts.
  • A father and mother can become too attached to their only child.
  • Perhaps the most obvious downside to being an only child is the feeling of loneliness. After all, he will so want to have a brother or sister with whom he can play regularly, or share his secrets.
  • When the parents become elderly, the person will have to take care of them himself.
  • The parents might put too much pressure on him.

The main reasons for rivalry between siblings

1. Lack of normal upbringing

When there is no normal upbringing in the home, children behave the way they want. They do not clean up after themselves, conflicts often arise between them, and they behave very badly.

2. Family problems of parents

Sibling rivalry and conflict usually reflects serious marital problems. Children often copy the words of their parents, their actions and behavior.

3. Lack of attention

When dads and mothers do not show enough attention to their children, they try in every possible way to attract this attention to themselves. They deliberately become bad kids who always have problems.

4. Not solving problems

Children’s problems must be resolved so that they do not become a source of conflict. And if this is not done, then the child feels ignored, that he is not important, and they do not pay attention to him.

5. Unequal care

When one child is given much more than another, he or she feels neglected, not cared for, and simply not loved.

The only child in the family: good or bad?

Of course, having one baby is much easier. The only child in the family allows the mother and father to better cover all his needs. They give him enough attention, have more opportunities to give him a good education, and their costs are not as significant as in the case of two or three children. Nevertheless, the choice is always yours. Just make sure that if you don’t have a brother or sister, you will be able to provide emotional and psychological support for your child.

What are the difficulties with multiple children?

  • The birth of each new baby, a big load on dad and mom;
  • The older a woman gets, the more risky it is to have a second child;
  • Keeping more children requires more money and energy;
  • Parents may not be able to pay enough attention to all children;
  • The more children a woman has, the harder pregnancy is for her.

What are the benefits of having multiple children?

  • If you enjoy raising children, you will have many fond memories of them;
  • The older children will look after the younger ones;
  • As parents get older, they are more likely to receive support from their children;
  • Children will help relieve some of the burden from the father and mother with regards to caring for the house;
  • When a child has a brother or sister, he spends more time with them and does not distract the parents.

How do you know if you can handle another baby?

  • Understand your finances. Can you financially support another baby?
  • Will you be able to devote enough time to each of them?
  • Think about whether there is enough space in your house or apartment for all the children? Or, can you afford to buy a new house or apartment?
  • Think about what it was like to raise your first child, and weigh the pros and cons.

When should you have a second child?

Research shows that getting pregnant within 18 months of having your first baby can increase the likelihood that your second baby will be born earlier. He may be underweight or have health problems. So be sure to wait at least 18 months before getting pregnant again.