Considerations for parenting time and visitation for infants

When it comes to child custody, there are several things that must be taken into consideration. One of those is the age of the child. Infants, for example, have special considerations that might not be an issue for older children. Our readers in Texas might be interested in learning about some of these special considerations.

One issue that can significantly impact a parenting agreement for an infant is how the infant is fed. An infant who is breastfed, for example, might need to stay close to the mother. Once the baby gets accustomed to feedings, the baby might be able to spend more time with the father if the mother provides pumped breast milk. In some cases, the father might be able to spend time with the baby and the mother at the same time.

Another issue is that anyone who is caring for the baby must know how to care for a baby. This means the person has to know how to change diapers, feed the baby, burp the baby and bathe the baby. Other care responsibilities might also be necessary, depending on how old the baby is and how long the parent will have the baby.

Besides basic care tasks, babies also bond with parents through play. Because of the short memory span of babies, some people recommend frequent visits, even as often as daily to help forge that bond.

Determining what custody agreement is best for your baby might prove to be challenging. Working with someone knowledgeable about infant custody schedules might help you to come up with a plan that works for your situation.

Source: Our Family Wizard, “Misconceptions About Custody Schedules for Infants” Dec. 23, 2014