Joint Custody of Infants
While most family courts agree joint child custody is in the best interest of a child, the logistics of joint physical custody of infants can be tricky. Infants and young toddlers need continuous care and a stable environment, which can make shared physical custody arrangements difficult.
When an infant is involved in a child custody situation, parents may agree to one parent being the primary caretaker until the child is older. The noncustodial parent may have frequent short visits during this time. The custody agreement can be modified when the child is old enough for longer or overnight visits.
If a mother is breastfeeding, the infant relies on the milk for nourishment and comfort around the clock. If it is possible for both parents to communicate and compromise with the child’s best interests in mind, a visitation schedule, which allows the infant to bond with both parents at an early age, can be established.
However, it would be very difficult to arrange overnight visitation with the father while the mother is breastfeeding.
Infants and young children need access to their primary caregiver at all times in order to be secure. The custodial parent must provide consistency and predictability in caring for the child. If an infant is shuffled between two homes for the benefit of the parents, his or her best interests are not being served.
Parents may have joint legal custody of an infant in a divorce. Joint physical custody of an infant is not impossible, but when considering what is best for the infant, development and emotional wellbeing is key.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I have been breastfeeding my now 4 month old daughter since birth. My ex boyfriend wants joint physical custody. He already has had her overnight Friday-Sunday this entire month and it is hard on me and I’m sure its hard on my daughter too, since she is used to being with me 24/7 and breastfeeding. Now he wants to have her Wednesday through Friday with alternating weekends. If he had her on that schedule and a weekend, he would have her Wednesday until the following Monday morning. That is just too many days for my daughter to be away from me. She is breastfed. He doesn’t understand and keeps accusing me of being a bad parent and says that I am the one not thinking about her best interest.