This week I was asked my opinion on how the arrival of a little brother would affect Princess Charlotte. Apparently, her parents say that she currently rules the roost. Well as much as we might like to make generalisations about birth order, the research does play out any of those old stereotypes. For example there is no robust research supporting “middle child syndrome” where a child suffers from neither being the oldest, nor the youngest. In reality, sibling relationships are dependent upon the interplay of different temperaments. While closely spaced children may argue more, they often report feelings of closeness, particularly with closely spaced girls. Have a look at my advice in relation to easing the transition for George and Charlotte.
