Consistency in characteristics of maternal behavior with different siblings was investigated among 65 economically disadvantaged families, each having two children. Quality of infant/mother attachment was assessed when firstborn children were 12 and 18 months old, respectively, and when secondborn children were 12 months old. When children were 24 months old, they were observed with their mothers in a series of laboratory settings. A 6-minute toy-cleanup period was viewed as a setting in which to observe individual differences in mothers' abilities to set and maintain limits on their children's behavior. Mothers' behavior in supporting children's problem-solving activities was also assessed. In addition, mothers and firstborns were observed in a teaching/problem-solving task when children were 42 months old. Findings indicated notable consistency in qualities of maternal behavior. Such consistency was apparent in the ways mothers handled salient emotional issues with their older and younger children across situations and across developmental periods. (RH)