Sibling Rivalry When dealing with sibling rivalry it is always important to be fair and not jump to conclusions. It is also very important to remain neutral. One must also deal with conflicts objectively, so as not to allow your own problems get in the way and worsen the conflict. These rules go for both parents and baby sitters and should always be kept in mind when dealing with such situations. One of the roots of sibling rivalry is jealousy. Another is fear. When the rivalry is between a baby and a toddler it may be because the toddler is jealous about the attention his brother is receiving or out of fear that he will receive less attention now that his mother is caring for his brother.