'middle child syndrome' does it exist and if so what can you do about it ?

[lilyloo]

DD2 is now 5.5 mths
I have dd1 3 and ds 6.
Now that dd2 is getting a little older ds is taking more interest in her and often says things that makes me wonder how his relationship will be with dd1 in the future. At the moment dd1 and ds argue most of the time , normal i know ! But i think the larger age gap with ds and dd2 might mean they get on better.

My sis has planted this seed as she is the middle one and said she has felt it when she was growing up.

If i am aware of it what can i do to help dd1 not feel left out ?
Or am i just thinking too far ahead!

dd1 (8) ds1(6) dd2(4)

each of them get on perfectly with any one of the others if there only two present. to the 'awwww, how lovely' extent.

if all 3 are there, usually dd2 gets ignored and throws a strop.

ds1 very lovely boy who doesn't seem to be exhibiting any middle child issues...

dd2 wants another baby. 'just one, mummy'

LOL at dd2 maybe i am being too swayed by my sis
did you do anything to help ds1 or is that just the way it's gone Romy ?

it's just the way it's gone really - and dd2 has needed an awful lot more attention than the average 3rd child as she was born with cp, so i'm guessing ds1'd be far more susceptible to middle-child than most. we've always made certain (because of dd2's issues) that each of the dcs has had some individual attention, and had done that with just the 2 beforehand, but tbh they've just got on with it. i think as long as you are careful to make sure that attention is fairly spread it's never going to be an issue... littler ones are always going to need more, but as long as everyone gets a turn and occasionally the littlest gets told 'no, it's not your turn now' then you can't go far wrong... better for the little one to understand that too!!

i do love boys who have only sisters - they are going to make someone a lovely dh one day!

True Romy my ds very thoughtful already !!

I'm a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. I usually played with my sis more when young, mainly because we shared a bedroom but dont remmeber really excluding my brother, There was a fair amount of two ganging up against one, but not in any particualr pattern. My parents did go on about the middle child being 'difficult' but don't know why, I was no more trouble in terms of behaviour or school etc than the other two.

I'm currently pregnant with number three and am a bit sad that DD2 will no longer be my baby but I think she's lucky being the middle - the oldest gets all the pressure and the youngest gets spoilt/neglected (as a sweeping generalisation!!) - I love being the middle child

I don't think it exists. Everyone likes some attention now and again and this is maybe one way of getting it

I am a middle child and yes 'middle child syndrome' does exsist or it did in my family .

I have an older brother who as the only boy was allowed a lot more freedom.

And in my dad words 'I was old enough to know better know matter what my sister did'.

But having said that it has become more apparant that the older i got the more i clashed with my dad. And now i can see it was more to do with the fact that we have the same personnality.

ooh star never thought of it that way , maybe she is lucky ?