🧒 Raising children (tarbiyah) · #188

My eldest child was angry to learn there is a new baby in the other home. What should I do?

That reaction is normal; the child feels his place in his father's heart is somehow threatened by the arrival of the new baby. Do not snap at him or label him jealous, because that only adds to his sense of being left out. Instead, assure him that your love has not lessened and that his place in the family remains secure. Discuss his feelings openly: ask what he is worried about and listen without interrupting. When the time is right, take him to meet his new sibling so that the baby becomes someone he knows, not an imagined rival. Give him a role as a respected big brother or big sister. Read more in children & polygyny.

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Related questions

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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