Addressing sibling rivalry and your emotions

Sibling rivalry

When you bring a new baby home, it's normal for older brothers and sisters to feel jealous or competitive. Here are some ways to address such feelings before they really disrupt the family:

Bring a gift to the older siblings when the mother and newborn come home from the hospital.
Spend some time with each child each day. This special attention by both the mother and father individually can quickly reduce the intensity of sibling rivalry.
Involve older siblings in providing care for the new baby as their age and maturity allow.

Your emotions

Although having a baby can be a time of joy and optimism, many parents also feel overwhelmed and depressed -- even when they and their newborn are healthy.

Adjusting to life with your new baby involves dealing with...

your emotions
fatigue and other common problems of early parenthood

Neither mothers nor fathers should go through this experience alone. Seeking help from family, friends or professionals is not only okay, it is the best way to deal with many of the difficulties you will face in the first few weeks of parenting your new baby.

Learn more about coping during the postpartum period...