Regression After the Arrival of a New Sibling: What’s It About?

Your child, who had grown up and was doing things on their own, has started displaying strange behavior since the arrival of their little brother or sister. They are babbling again, wetting their pants, waking up multiple times at night, or asking for a bottle... You feel like they’re regressing, acting like a baby again. How does this regression manifest? What causes this phenomenon? Is it normal? We will break it all down in this article and provide you with tips to support your child in the best way possible.

In What Areas of Their Life Does This Regression Show?

Regression is a return to an earlier stage of development. Your "big" child, who used to sleep well through the night, suddenly starts waking up and demanding your presence, struggles with language, feels the need to wear diapers again, asks for their comfort object, or sucks their thumb. They want to drink from a bottle again.

So, what causes this phenomenon? Is it normal?
Of course, every child is different and doesn’t react the same way, but this regression is completely normal. It generally happens in response to a stressful situation in the child’s life (other situations besides the arrival of a baby can trigger it).

With the arrival of a new sibling, your child loses their position as the youngest, may feel jealous of the attention given to their brother or sister, or anxious about losing their parents' love. By acting like a baby again, they may seek to return to a time when they felt secure and pampered.

Tips to Support Your Child During This Period

First of all, if you’re welcoming a newborn into your home, be extremely kind to yourself and to the members of your family. These are intense upheaval moments, and family balance needs to be rebuilt.

Here are a few keys to help you guide your child through this special period in their life:

• Accept this phase. Remind yourself that it’s not abnormal and, with your support, it will pass.
• Dedicate time to your "big" child to refill their love tank.
• Don’t scold them for their regressive behaviors.
• Celebrate their role as the older sibling and give them small tasks related to the baby’s care, such as organizing diapers, assisting with diaper changes, singing songs, etc.
• Support your child with little books. We recommend books like "You're All My Favorites" by Sam McBratney or "Do You Love Me or Do You Not?" by Carl Norac and Claude K. Dubois.

This phase may last for a few weeks, as your child adapts to and accepts this new situation. If it continues for longer, don't hesitate to seek help from healthcare professionals who can support you.