Little girl’s reaction to her baby sibling’s arrival has the internet saying 'please give her a hug'

Being a firstborn is indeed different. For a while, they have their parents all to themselves, but when a new baby comes along, things change, even if not evidently.  The cuddles tend to be shared, the attention shifts, and the world they knew starts to feel different. For many older siblings, especially little ones, that change can feel confusing. It can hurt in ways they don’t yet have words for.

That feeling came through so clearly in a video shared by @zabumochi on Instagram. In it, a little girl stands off to the side, holding her unicorn toy, while her parents hold their new baby sibling. They’re smiling, caught up in the joy of the moment. But she isn’t. She watches quietly, through the glass door, and is almost teary-eyed, probably after the realisation that she’s not the center of the world anymore.

For many firstborn children, this moment is a deja vu. They’ve been the ones loved wholly, hugged first, and doted on daily. And then, one day, everything shifts. The same camera lens that always pointed at their smile now zooms in on someone else’s tiny hands. Psychologists call this the 'dethronement effect.' It’s not jealousy in the typical sense, but it’s grief, confusion, and insecurity all tangled into one tiny heart that doesn’t know how to process the sudden change. And this video brought that quiet heartbreak to the surface for thousands.

The comment section became full of empathy." Give her to me, I will love her," wrote one user called @sassywithshy."I don’t know why I feel sad looking at her," added @adwaithanand. "Bro hug that girl don’t let her feel that way, she’s so adorable," urged @abouava."Make her feel loved. Please don’t let them be enemies but besties," wrote @oreoluwaanthony34, echoing what so many felt, that this moment, if handled better, could shape their bond forever.

Commenters weren’t just feeling sad, but they started holding the parents accountable, too. “Parents’ fault. They should hug her and kiss her and love her more than ever. Make friends, not enemies,” said @mehicmelisa11.And they were not wrong. Experts emphasise that involving older siblings in the arrival of a new baby, by giving them small tasks like soothing, feeding, or holding the baby, helps them feel important and valued. Similarly,  Psychology Today advises giving positive attention to the older child, offering one-on-one time, and praising their helpful actions rather than punishing them for misbehavior.

It is also recommended to prepare them in advance, letting them participate in choosing baby items, and maintaining special time routines to reassure them of their place in the family. When handled thoughtfully, the arrival of a sibling doesn’t have to mean a loss of love. On the contrary, not all big sibling moments are sad.  As seen in a story published by The Daily Net, some older siblings react with overwhelming excitement, sometimes showering the baby with so much affection that it borders on chaos. It's a striking contrast to the tender moment captured by this mom,  whose daughter cried happy tears upon reading a “Big Sister” card.