Research proves that parents DO have a favourite child.

If you have more than one child, then there may have been a few comments made in jest about your ‘favourite child’. But would you be shocked if I told you that there is now research to suggest that most parents DO in fact have a favourite?

I know to most of my fellow mummies, this will sound completely ridiculous, however this is actually what I’m reading all over the news today. 

In most cases, the favourite child is usually the first born, but how could anyone possibly come to that conclusion?

Well a University of California studied 768 parents and found that 70 percent of mothers and 74 percent of fathers admitted they had a child they preferred. The parents didn’t specify which child they preferred, but scientists believe it is the first born.

I know younger children often complain about first born bias, but does it really exist?

The same research also found that no matter what the birth order, every one of them were suspicious of their parents liking another one better.

One of the researchers has said of the findings: ‘Our working hypothesis was that older, earlier born children would be more affected by perceptions of differential treatment due to their status as older child — more power due to age and size, more time with parents — in the family.’

So what do you think? Do you feel like you or one of your sibling received more special treatment from your parents whilst growing up? And would you agree that you can have a child that you prefer more than another? Let me know your thoughts on this story and join my poll below.

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