FIRSTBORN CHILD READINESS FOR A NEW SIBLING: A CASE STUDY OF BIRTH-ORDER CHALLENGES AND COPING FOR PARENTS

Transition to siblinghood can be very stressful for many families due to a newly born sibling\u27s arrival. The study\u27s primary purpose is to explore the mother\u27s preparation experiences with regard to the firstborn child\u27s behavior before and after in response to the birth of a second-born sibling. The current study is a phenomenological examination of the firstborn child\u27s readiness for a new sibling using a sample of two mothers who are currently having two children. Eighteen categories that emerged from the raw data were further categorized into four general themes: support systems, talk to your child, positive post-birth behavior, and malicious post-birth behavior. The themes developed in this study illustrate mothers\u27 perceptions of their firstborn child\u27s behavior in response to a second-born sibling\u27s birth. It is hoped that this study would enlighten on the critical period and changes in the firstborn child\u27s adjustment and family relationships following the sibling\u27s birth