In plain words
Attachment security describes how safe and connected a child feels with a parent or caregiver. A securely attached child feels free to explore and comes back for comfort. Researchers have studied older siblings to see how a new baby changes this bond. Some firstborns show a dip in security after a sibling arrives. The dip is linked to how emotionally available parents are during the change. Older children over about two years old may show more change in some studies. This does not mean the bond is broken. Routine time together, patience with , and one-on-one time are often described as supporting connection. A pediatrician can talk through any concern.
The deeper version
Attachment security, as assessed in the Strange Situation and related measures, reflects a child's organized strategy for seeking comfort under stress, shaped by caregiver sensitivity (Ainsworth and colleagues, 1978). Longitudinal observational studies of siblings form the base of research on how a new birth affects an older child's security. Dunn and Kendrick (1982) and Stewart (1983) began this work. Teti and colleagues (Child Development, 1996) reported that attachment security of firstborns declined after a sibling's birth, more so in children over 24 months and in relation to maternal affective involvement. Volling and colleagues (2017) used latent trajectory modeling and found individual trajectories rather than a uniform decline. The controversy concerns how much of the change reflects itself versus broader family stress.
Where it comes up
- Older siblings and the new babySupport, Home, and Village
- Preparing an older child for the babyPregnancy: Mind and Life
What mothers here say about attachment security
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Teti DM and colleagues, Child Development — Attachment security of firstborn children after the birth of a sibling (1996)
- Ainsworth MDS and colleagues — Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation (1978)