Parenting time schedules and plans are critical when parents aren’t together any longer. If the child is an infant, this can be rather complex. Each aspect of the plan must take the child’s needs into account.
Unlike older children, infants can’t express their needs through words. They rely on having consistent care so they can have healthy emotional and physical development. Because of this, the baby will need consistent schedules that include frequent contact with both parents.
What happens if the infant is breastfeeding?
Infants who are breastfeeding often need to spend more time with the breastfeeding parent. The other parent would need to have shorter, more frequent visits unless that parent can spend time with the baby with the breastfeeding parent present. Because of this, overnight visits aren’t common when the baby is younger.
As the baby gets older, visits with the parent who isn’t breastfeeding can become longer. The parent who is breastfeeding can pump and store milk so the other parent can feed the baby during their parenting time. Another option is to use formula as a supplemental feeding option when the baby is with the parent who’s not breastfeeding.
How can parents simplify co-parenting an infant?
One of the best ways that co-parents can simplify things is to communicate calmly and frequently. Building a parenting plan that helps to keep the needs of the baby first is critical. It’s also necessary for both parents to remain flexible so they can try to find schedules that work for the infant.