Sibling jealousy — How to support your family through a new baby's arrival

1. Why jealousy shows up

A new baby changes each child's place in the family. Jealousy isn't a parenting failure or a sign of a bad temper: it's the natural expression of a fear of losing their parents' attention and affection.

It's common for the older sibling to regress (asking for a pacifier again, talking like a baby or having potty accidents), to have more tantrums or, on the contrary, to become overly eager to please. All of these are ways of asking for reassurance.

2. The Cleo & Cuquin family as a model

In a family of six siblings, each one has their own personality and role. Cleo, the oldest, looks after everyone and keeps things organized; Cuquin, the baby, turns everything upside down; and the rest learn to live with his mischief. The series shows that each sibling matters for who they are, not for their age:

• Each child has their own place: each character's strengths (Pelusin's creativity, Colitas's empathy, Maripi's sense of order) don't compete with each other.
• The baby is a partner in adventure: Cuquin's mistakes become challenges the siblings solve together.
• Cooperating beats competing: solutions come when the group works together.

3. A practical guide for parents

• Prepare without promising: explain ahead of time what life with the baby will be like, without promising they'll be "your best friend" from day one.
• Set aside one-on-one time: a few minutes a day alone with the older sibling, without the baby, are worth more than lots of presents.
• Give them a role, not a burden: invite them to help (choosing the baby's pajamas, singing the baby a song) if they want to, never as an obligation.
• Accept negative feelings: "Sometimes it makes you angry that the baby cries so much, and that's normal" teaches them that feeling jealous isn't bad; what you help them with is how they express it.
• Avoid comparisons: every child has their own pace and their own way of being.