Is the youngest child in the family always spoilt?

1. 97

   daydreamsposted 11 years ago

   Is the youngest child in the family always spoilt?

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2. 0

   sheilamyersposted 11 years ago

   Not in my family. I think my older brother got much more of the attention from my dad. As the only girl, I got attention from both of my parents. My younger brother was the baby and got a lot of my mom's attention. I don't think any of us were spoiled in the normal sense of the word.

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3. 90

   Jeannieinabottleposted 11 years ago

   I am an only child, but I am friends with several people that have very spoiled older brothers or sisters.  I think it depends on the family, but I get the impression that some parents spoil the first child so much before any other kid is born, that child continues to grow up being spoiled.  For that matter, I've met some really spoiled adults that are still being pampered by their parents.

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I worked with a woman who was the youngest of 5 children.  This woman wanted HER way at work.  She also did as little work as possible.  She wanted THE WORLD but refused to work towards her goals. She lived at home until she was 30!

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4. 63

   Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

   It can depend on the family, but also on things like the family's situation when one or another child has come along.  Example:  Young, first-time, parents may not have much money.  Older parents who are more established and have, say, their youngest child, may be more likely to be able to give the younger child more than the first one did.  Also, though, sometimes the parents are a little more lenient with a youngest child because they may have been "a little too much" with a first child, when they were inexperienced with children.
   
   On the other hand, though, there are times when an older child gets to have both parents see him grow up and have children; while by the time a younger one gets there one of the parents may have passed away.  My sister got to have our father in her life until she was twenty-three - not very old; but my younger brother lost our father when he was only in his mid-teens.
   
   Oh, my brother was just two when our mother was hospitalized for eight months for lung infection; so my brother was without my mother at that important time in his life.   My brother was also a baby/toddler who was born early and frequently sick.  So, for example, if my brother got a new little TV in his bedroom when he was six, and after my parents had extra money; and my sister and I shared a used TV and only once we were both teens...   It was all a matter of timing and individual circumstances, etc. etc.  Personally, I think the youngest child in our family got the "worst deal".
   
   Well, even in the case of divorced parents; the youngest child will have had both parents living together for a shorter time than older siblings.  So again, people should be very careful about generalization - especially if they don't understand all the circumstances and issues involved in any family.
   
   Basically, blanket generalizations are never a good idea.

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   1. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      On the whole, youngest children TEND to be spoilt &spoilt rotten. I have encountered such people.They can be described as irresponsible &quite insufferable! They feel that EVERYTHING should REVOLVE around THEM! Oldest/middle kids are FAR MORE

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5. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   
   
   To many parents, the youngest child is their baby, their jewel.   Also, the youngest child in the family is the parents' LAST child- there WILL be NO MORE after him/her.  Parents also view the youngest child as more fragile and in need of their love and protection regardless of the age of the youngest child.
   
   In addition to that, parents are more relaxed and experienced when the youngest child arrives.  They are likely to be more lax regarding this child than they were their older children.   As a result of this parental experience, youngest children are more likely to get away with things that their older counterparts were often disciplined and/or chastised for.   
   
   Youngest children know this and often use this for their advantage.  Because they are the youngest, they are considered to be "not knowing any better."  In many families, older children are oftentimes punished for the things the youngest child does because it is the parents' belief that the youngest as the baby is wholly innocent of any wrongdoing. 
   
   Youngest children are known as the cute ones in the family.  They realize this and are often the attention grabbers and stars of the family.   Parents and older siblings adore them and want to do everything possible to please and placate the baby of the family.   Many youngest children are treated as princes and princesses in their family with their every need catered to. 
   
   In contrast to their older, particularly the oldest siblings, youngest children have the longest and freest childhoods and adolescence; oftentimes into early adulthood.   In addition to that, they have the LEAST familial responsibilities of all birth orders.  Yes, youngest children have IT MADE in the shade so to speak.
   
   Family size is highly influential as to the amount of spoilage regarding the youngest child.  In small and medium sized families (2-4 children per household), youngest children are more or less on an equal parity with their older siblings.  In such families, what goes for one oftentimes goes for all.   However, in medium large to very large families(5 and more children per household), youngest children are more likely to be spoiled and coddled while the older children bear the brunt of the familial responsibilities and the parental discipline.  Also in medium large to very large families, it is the youngest child who has the MOST and ADVANTAGEOUS educational and socioeconomic opportunities.

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6. 59

   Penny Gposted 10 years ago

   No but siblings see it that way. Actually by the time they are born the parents usually have more money, more settled and they definite.

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7. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 6 years ago

   Youngest children can be quite insufferable.  In many cases, youngest children are spoilt rotten, especially in large & very large families where youngest children are catered to & indulged.  However, not so much in smaller families where youngest children are on equal parity w/their older siblings.

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8. 60

   Live to Learnposted 6 years ago

   Every child can be considered 'spoiled'.
   
   Take my family.
   
   The oldest, a girl, was spoiled, by the estimation of other siblings. 'Daddy's favorite' who could do no wrong, who always shined in our parent's eyes, with her only claim to fame being the first.
   
   The second, a boy. Spoiled, by the estimation of other siblings. Who spoiled him? Our parents, because he was diagnosed with a heart condition, which didn't equate to an inability to participate in any physical activity....our grandmother, because he was a boy....our community because he was heir apparent.
   
   The youngest, spoiled in the eyes of siblings. Who spoiled her? Parents, because her age always made her less accountable than older siblings. Siblings, because she could be 'the doll' in make believe, she was small enough to engender feelings of protectiveness in the son and grandparents because everyone knew she was the last child.
   
   The middle girl. Who spoiled her? Mostly she did. By bullying her way to the best she could. Guilting parents into behavior patterns to ensure she knew she was special. Why? Because of her insecurities more so than any outward actions by others.
   
   Everyone is spoiled. Everyone is neglected. Everyone has to eventually grow up and realize this.

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   1. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Youngest children are spoilt, especially those in large/very large families. Youngest children in such families are indulged & spoilt beyond repair.  However, youngest children in small families aren't spoiled.  They have an equal parity w/their oldest/older siblings.  It isn't so in large/very large families-in such families, oldest children get the shaft.  They are treated as unpaid slaves/mascots by parents & siblings whereas youngest children are babied & don't have any responsibilities at all.

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