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to their one and only.

Frequently the only child is not potty trained in a timely manner, perhaps even passing the age of three or four before the diapers come off. Without younger siblings to change and bath, the parents of the only child see no harm in waiting until their child decides when they are "ready" to be potty trained.

Breast feeding mothers of only children tend to allow these children to nurse much longer than the mother who has a new infant to nurse. Weaning occurs naturally in mothers of multiple children but in the case of the only child the mother may well be encouraging infantile behavior like nursing long after the child has enough teeth to chew steak, again, allowing the child to "decide" when they are ready to stop nursing.

Parents of the only child are more likely than other parents to delay the development of their babies into children as they may subconsciously wish to perpetuate the infant stage. Stagnating psychological and emotional growth in a child in this manner will create a child who is self centered and lacking in coping skills. When they cannot satisfy their need for immediate gratification, whether it be for a toy, a snack, or the attention of a teacher they will revert to behaviors that are not age appropriate. They may cry, throw tantrums and act out in ways that a child that has learned the concept of delaying gratification never would.

As the doting parents of the only child continue to make that child the center of their universe the child may not have a concept of respect for adults. As the adults in their world are always focused on their wants and needs they will grow to anticipate that all adults they encounter live to service only their individual desires. This will make for some difficult adjustments when the only child attends day care or begins school.

The over-protected only child is more typical than unusual. As, again, the parents have no other children to tend to it may be that the only child is limited in exploration of their environment for fear that the only child may "hurt" themselves. This may actually cause physical development delays in motor skills such as walking, holding a spoon, feeding themselves and even talking.

When the mother of an only child continually swoops in and snatches the baby up in her arms whenever he wishes to explore his environment the child will learn to become physically passive and perhaps even fearful. If the same mother had to attend to an infant sibling her attention would be

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