The poll by the British parenting Web site Netmums found 16 percent of respondents confessed to having stronger feelings for one particular child rather than loving all equally, The Observer reported Sunday.

A mother-of-four identified only as Polly was among those admitting they had a "secret love" with one particular child.

"I do have a favorite child: my second youngest and my last daughter," Polly said. "It's almost like a secret love affair. When she walks into a room with my other children, she stands out to me more than the rest. I would die for all my kids, but I have to admit I would fight more strongly and fiercely for her."

The Observer said the poll, for which no margin of error was given, also found that more than 50 percent of respondents said they loved their children equally but in different ways. An additional one-third of respondents claimed to love their kids exactly the same amount in the same way.