Kylie Kelce Questions Sibling Gift Trend, Yet 54% Of Parents Are All In

Kylie Kelce stirred the parenting pot earlier this year when she took aim at a growing trend: giving gifts to siblings on another child’s birthday.

“It feels very participation trophy-esque,” she said in February, sparking a firestorm of opinions online.

Now, as we gear up for the chaos of summer birthday season, looking at you, July and August babies, one question remains: Is this trend really that common?

Short answer? Yes. Turns out, Kylie Kelce may be in the minority on this one.

According to a recent BabyCenter survey of more than 500 parents, a majority (54%) say they give gifts to the non-birthday sibling, all in an effort to keep the peace and manage little kid meltdowns.

Here's the breakdown:

• 32% of parents say they always give a gift to siblings on their brother or sister's big day.
• 22% admit they do it sometimes, depending on the mood or situation.

The goal? Avoiding tears and tantrums. Parents who go this route say it’s about helping the non-birthday kid feel included and sometimes even gifting the birthday child something to share with their sibling.

But not everyone is on board.

The other half of parents use birthday parties as a teachable moment, letting kids sit with feelings like jealousy, learn to celebrate others, and practice patience. Experts say that while giving gifts may stop the whining short-term, it might also rob kids of a key emotional life lesson.

“Being sensitive and responsive to our kids' feelings doesn't mean we have to protect them from painful feelings,” one clinical psychologist explained. “Empathizing and helping them cope is more empowering for them than trying to avoid all pain.”

"It's really natural for kids to feel disappointed when it's not their special day, but it is an important lesson, and it makes their birthday all the more special," one parent added, per the survey findings.

In a statement shared with The Blast, Robin Hilmantel, senior director of editorial strategy and growth at BabyCenter, shared,  "Despite Kylie Kelce’s opinion on this topic, most parents (54%) give presents to children on their siblings’ birthdays at least some of the time."

She added, "Experts we spoke to said that giving some kind of gift, even if it’s smaller, can obviously help avoid conflict in the moment. But a potential downside is you’re depriving your child of the opportunity to practice coping with tough feelings like envy. Different families will choose different paths forward on this, and that’s okay!"

In the end, Hilmantel said that ultimately, "we want parents to feel supported either way here at BabyCenter."

"If you give your child a present on their siblings' birthday, there is no shame in that," she expressed. "But it’s also all right to stand with Kylie and avoid sibling birthday gifts. Being a parent is hard enough without feeling judgment for your decisions, so there's no judgment here!"

So what’s a parent to do when little Timmy throws a fit over not getting a LEGO set on his sister’s birthday? Experts suggest giving them a “helper” role at the party, spending one-on-one time with them before or after the celebration, and reminding them that their day will come.

“If your other child seems upset, simply acknowledge what they're going through,” psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore said. Simple phrases like “I get it, it's hard to wait for your birthday, but you will have your special day, too" can go a long way in helping the non-birthday sibling feel seen, while also reminding them their special day will come.

At the same time, don’t automatically assume your child is upset. Not every kid is going to spiral into jealousy-mode.

“Children understand taking turns at a young age,” Kennedy-Moore noted. If your child seems fine, there’s no need to overcorrect or intervene unnecessarily.

Instead, look for ways to create connection, not competition. And don’t underestimate the power of a little one-on-one attention. A quick cuddle or a few moments together before or after the party can go a long way in making sure everyone feels loved and important.

Bottom line: Whether you’re Team Kylie or Team Keep-the-Peace, the sibling gift debate is officially heating up, just in time for summer party season.