Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart

Child Development and Suggested Parenting Schedules
At around six months, babies can recognize their parents and other
caregivers and may become uneasy around strangers. Regular caregivers
understand how the child signals the need for food, comfort and sleep.
When away from parents or significant caregivers, babies may become
anxious and have eating and sleeping problems. However, being away
from one parent or caregiver and in the care of the other parent to whom
the child is bonded should not be a problem for most babies.
Babies have basic sleep, feeding and waking schedules. It is important to
keep the baby on these schedules. Parents should work out their own
schedules so they do not interfere with the baby’s normal routine. Also,
in creating parenting schedules for this age group, parents ought to think
about the special needs of breast-feeding babies. Nursing mothers may
want to express milk and send bottles with the baby so the father can
feed the baby during his parenting time. (See page 67 on “Breast-
Feeding.”)
Make exchanges easier
for your child by following
predictable schedules,
avoiding conflict with the
other parent in front
of your child and
supporting your child’s
relationship with the other
parent.
One- to two-year-olds are becoming more aware of the world around
them and the people who have a lot of contact with them. A baby at this
age can be attached to many caregivers, including grandparents,
extended family members, and day care providers. Babies also are
becoming independent and developing the ability to comfort
themselves by thumb sucking or holding onto favorite blankets or
toys. Their sleeping and eating schedules are becoming regular.
They continue to respond to the different types of nurturing
provided by their parents. Two-year-olds commonly test parental
limits (“terrible twos”), and consistent and loving parental
responses can build the child’s self-esteem for years to come.
Moving between the parents’ homes may be difficult for some
youngsters, and they may become upset at these times. For some
children, resistance to exchange time is normal. This behavior does not
necessarily mean that the other parent is not a good parent or that the
child does not want to be with the other parent. While parents need to be
sensitive to whatever the child is experiencing, most children calm down
shortly after the exchange. You can make exchanges easier for your child
by following predictable schedules, avoiding conflict with the other
parent in front of your child and supporting your child’s relationship with
the other parent.
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