First Borns Do Better

Older or Younger?

March 25, 2008

Studies show that first born children get more attention from their parents than subsequent siblings.

Many new parents are eager to coach baby number one into Einstein territory. And when baby number two arrives, it seems the name of the game is "Survivor" — you do what you can to get by.

While the wee ones may not have their parents' undivided attention around the clock, they are often more spoiled. Maybe it's guilt that parents feel, but there seems to be an advantage to being the runt of the litter.

Parents are often more relaxed and less shell shocked with later offspring. Adding to the list of pros, youngsters often learn from their elder sibling's mistakes.

Would you rather be the oldest or youngest child? Why?
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20 Comments

KathleenxCouture 5 years 8 weeks

Oldest of four. I have triplet (fraternal) siblings that are 6 years younger than meit was hard..actually I needed to be like a second mom sometimes but I wouldnt change it for the world.

KathleenxCouture 5 years 8 weeks

Oldest of four. I have triplet (fraternal) siblings that are 6 years younger than me it was hard..actually I needed to be like a second mom sometimes but I wouldnt change it for the world.

cheezieeo 5 years 8 weeks

I am the oldest and my parents are still strict with me. (I'm 21 this year) I suspect I am their guinea pig as they did many "parental experiments" with me. Hahaha. I could see the difference in methods when they were dealing with my other two sisters. Much more lenient I must say.Love being the oldest though it can be very tough at times! :D

cheezieeo 5 years 8 weeks

I am the oldest and my parents are still strict with me. (I'm 21 this year) I suspect I am their guinea pig as they did many "parental experiments" with me. Hahaha. I could see the difference in methods when they were dealing with my other two sisters. Much more lenient I must say. Love being the oldest though it can be very tough at times! :D

roxtarchic 5 years 8 weeks

i'm the oldest of three... yeah they were more strict w/me... most definitely, but i like being in the lead.

kiwitwist 5 years 8 weeks

I was the youngest. The best I think!

gab6784 5 years 8 weeks

I am the youngest of three... it is still the best! By the time my mom was done with my brother and sister she was really lenient with me :)

JennyJen 5 years 8 weeks

I love being the oldest and wouldn't change a thing.

californiagirlx7 5 years 8 weeks

I am the oldest child and I love it most of the time. My parents used to be over-protective but I have a lot of privileges that my younger sisters don't have and I don't have a curfew, as long as I tell my dad basically what i'm doing that night. I also got the first car, laptop, and TV, as well as my own room. wow i sound spoiled...but my middle sister has more clothes than i do and my youngest sister has more toys & games.

Ericka 5 years 8 weeks

I was an only child and loved it. Got the best of both worlds really.

lyrical_angel 5 years 8 weeks

I'm an only child. I enjoyed it most of the time but it did get lonely. I'm jealous sometimes of the relationships my friends have with their siblings.

uptown_girl 5 years 8 weeks

I liked being the middle one. I liked disappearing and, as others have said "fly under the radar". I got away with a lot, probably more than my sister, and maybe more than my brother (he's six years younger so there is no one at home to distract the attention).When I have kids, I want to have at least three as well. I like the odd number dynamic.

uptown_girl 5 years 8 weeks

I liked being the middle one. I liked disappearing and, as others have said "fly under the radar". I got away with a lot, probably more than my sister, and maybe more than my brother (he's six years younger so there is no one at home to distract the attention). When I have kids, I want to have at least three as well. I like the odd number dynamic.

ellipsery 5 years 8 weeks

I'm the youngest, and I definitely flew under the radar! My sister was certainly coddled more (though she was sick as an infant), but my parents were more lenient with me; I wouldn't trade that for the world. I'm a firm believer in birth order affecting people's personalities, and I like being the funny and out-going sister :)

Jessie M 5 years 8 weeks

I'm a middle child-two older sisters and two younger sisters. I like it in the middle, that way my parents weren't overly strict like with my older sisters, but I'm not 'babied' like my younger sisters are. I can see how it might be awesome to be babied for so long, but they are missing out on learning how to do a lot of stuff on their own. When I was 10, I was doing my own laundry and cooking for myself often because my mom was too busy taking care of my two younger sisters...since my mom doesnt have any new kids to dote on, they continue to be babied. I doubt my 12 year old sister even knows how to turn on the stove. I like being right smack dab in the middle! I feel it has made me a more independent person.

luvhouse07 5 years 8 weeks

I've kind of experienced both. I'm the only child of my parents, but I also have an older (13 and 10 years respectively)half sister and brother from my fathers first marriage, that never lived with him full time and only saw us once a week for as long as I can remember. Out of the three of us, I was definetely the most spoiled and encouraged, but I'm not sure if I'd rather be the oldest or the youngest. I think I'm happiest as an only child :D.

schnappycat 5 years 8 weeks

I'm an only child, so have no idea. My husband thinks I have only child syndrome and that I'm spoiled, but I disagree. If I'm spoiled at all, it's only because it would have been hard for my mom (who was a single parent for awhile) to NOT spoil me just because there was only me to dote on. But I really think I'm well-rounded and as unspoiled as the next person. That all being said, as an adult, I miss having siblings and now think want my son to have at least one sibling, be it bio or adopted. Then I can see how more than one really works out!

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 8 weeks

I am the youngest of four girls, and I had it easy. I wasnt spoiled because god knows i grew up wearing hand me downs, but I never needed for much. My oldest sister had it worse, they were very strict with her and overly cautious , by the time they got to me i could have played with fire for all they cared!

faerymagick15 5 years 8 weeks

I am the oldest and was spoiled rotten but i don't think it necessarily helped me at all. My brother is 12 yrs younger and was even more spoiled and more coddled than I ever was. It didn't do him any good. I try to be equal with my kids as much as possible.

Rally RE 5 years 8 weeks

i am the oldest and was watched like a hawk. next in line is my sister and she flew under the radar. then came my brother - the sole boy - special privileges came with being the only boy and carrying on the family name. and, finally my youngest sister - my parents were exhausted by the time she came along. if given the chance to change my order, i think i'd stay in the lead.

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