What Do You Do With Infants Who Are Held All The Time At Home?

[KiddieCahoots]

I personally dont think that daycare is pleasant at all for a huge majority of children under about 18 months. The best of them will tolerate it fairly well, the tiny tiny minority will attach to their provider and thrive in care. This is why I take only one non walking child at a time. It does not feel right in my heart to take multiple small ones when I know they need and deserve better care. The ugly truth is that daycare is for parents, not kids. And most kids are better at home assuming they have a reasonably responsible and invested parent or guardian.

totally agree!

[Leanna]

I wear them! Keeps them close, snug, cozy, and feeling safe while I still have arms and hands. I like the Boba - it is comfortable and doesn't hurt your back. Babies are meant for holding! <3

[Heidi]

I personally dont think that daycare is pleasant at all for a huge majority of children under about 18 months. The best of them will tolerate it fairly well, the tiny tiny minority will attach to their provider and thrive in care. This is why I take only one non walking child at a time. It does not feel right in my heart to take multiple small ones when I know they need and deserve better care. The ugly truth is that daycare is for parents, not kids. And most kids are better at home assuming they have a reasonably responsible and invested parent or guardian.

eh...I don't totally agree, but I get what you're saying.

In my case, I have a small group of kiddos (only 4 now), and honestly, I think they do very, very well. I agree, though, that there are some less-than-ideal situations, such as in a center where there is a 4:1 ratio, but there are 8 or 12 infants all in one room. Chaos, IMO. Or, a mixed-age group "large group" center with 10 or 12 kids, maybe 2 caregivers. While it is perfectly legal in some states (WI has no large family licenses), I would not call that ideal for a wee one. Too much stimulation, usually.

Honestly, the most well-adjusted child in my program (actually, the 2 most well-adjusted, judging by how content and capable they are most days) are the 2 that I've had since they were 6 weeks old. First 1, has always been very happy, because mom and I negotiated a lot. The other guy took longer, but mom did everything different from me from day one. Not wrong, just different. Now, he's 11 months old. When she walks in the door, there is a switch flipped! Kind of funny to watch, actually!

[Heidi]

I wear them! Keeps them close, snug, cozy, and feeling safe while I still have arms and hands. I like the Boba - it is comfortable and doesn't hurt your back. Babies are meant for holding! <3

Yea...that's great, really!

BUT...

I have 4 babies sometimes. One of them was 19 pounds at 4 months. I'm almost 50, and my back is bad enough some days that I can barely carry my own self around...

Baby wearing is a legit choice, just not my choice. I like them to be friends with gravity. Best friends.