Is there still such a thing as an "only child"?

My grandchildren have a cousin who is an 'only' one. He spends a lot of time with his cousins, who live round the corner, and they are often round there. The two families share the school run. He is the same age as my middle grand child and the two boys are closer than many brothers. They insist that they will go to secondary school together.

I was (am) an only child who grew up in a very large extended family and on a street with lots of children - in the days when we all spent every daylight hour outside and left to our own devices . If anything I think it might be more lonely for only children these days, with smaller and scattered extended families and less freedom to roam. The thing about being an only child though, and I agree with Tegan here, is that the loneliness/ aloneness kicks in later in life. I find it very hard to have no one to share my history, no one to say 'remember when....', and no one to invite to DD's wedding later this year . So on the whole I would not recommend it, not by choice at least.

I too was an only child but never lonely as I had friends and cousins. I think this made me independent and I could easily occupy myself if I was alone. I also enjoy my own company whenever I have to be on my own.

I have met quite a few people with siblings who would loved to have been an only child

I was an only child, but really cannot remember feeling lonely. I think that was because I knew no different. I was just me! I played by myself happily enough and I played with my friends. I read a lot - and oddly enough, I read with my friends. We used to sit together and read Enid Blyton !!

My DD had several friends that were ' the only child in the family, and they loved spending time with us [we had 3] and seemed to live with us practically, liking all the hustle and bustle.I guess it all depends on the child though, and what their own parents do with them, and if they have extended family nearby.In some ways it must be nice to be the only child and not have to scramble for parental affection and notice.It does mean a quieter life though for them, especially when they go on holiday.My 3 used to play together all the time.

As an only child I don't recall feeling lonely because of it. What it did do was make me very selfish but I only realised that when I started flat sharing in my late teens . It's now, when I'm a lot older that I envy people having family; I tend to feel a bit isolated.

NO, no, no! Social media cannot make up for the company of others, (obviously),especially when you are a child.

What an odd way to think! If she'd said 'because there are plenty of other kids round here to play with' it might be different...