What Happens If a Brother and Sister Have a Kid?

What happens if a brother and sister have a kid?

Having a baby is a great thing for a family, but it can be difficult on older siblings. Siblings often experience feelings of jealousy, resentment and even anger towards the new arrival. These feelings may manifest as aggressive behaviour and physical harm. They might also feel a sense of being left out and not getting as much attention.

Jealousy can lead to conflict in the home and this can be very stressful for parents. It’s important to remember that the best way to tackle this is to talk to your children and find out how they are feeling about the new arrival.

If your children let on that they are feeling jealous, try to reassure them of your love and support. You can also tell them about how you felt when you were their age and what it was like to be the only child in your family.

Then ask them to think about what it is that they are missing out on – the fun times, the attention from their parents, or something else. Reassurance and understanding will help your children work through their jealousy, resentment and anger.

Genetics

Siblings share just about 50% of their DNA, says Dr. Johan Dennis, senior scientist at The National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, MD. This is mainly because of a process called recombination.

When gametes, the eggs and sperm cells that make up your body’s reproductive system, go through a process called meiosis, they get one random chromosome from each parent. Because of this, they each have a different set of chromosomes, and therefore a different DNA code. This is why identical twins are more similar than their non-identical siblings.

Similarly, when parents have kids together there is a higher risk of them passing on certain disease genes to their offspring. This is particularly the case with inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF).

In some cases it can be harder for siblings to get along because they have different needs, anxieties and identities. For example, toddlers have a strong need to protect their toys and belongings, while school-age children have a strong concept of fairness and equality. They might have a hard time understanding why their younger sibling gets treated differently, so they may react with aggression to the new addition to the family.

These differences can cause significant problems for siblings and can make it very hard to get along. This is why it is so important to be proactive when your kids start to develop rivalry and fights.

Working things out can also make it easier for your children to get on with each other later in life. It can also give your children a chance to learn some very valuable skills, such as communicating effectively and working with others.

Role modeling

When your children see you and your spouse work through issues in a respectful and productive manner, it sets a good example for them. They’ll then be more likely to adopt those same habits when they’re in their own relationships.