Determining if Joint Custody of an Infant is BestWhen deliberating on joint custody of an infant, certain considerations come into play. Custody is
a much different issue with the very young children. One needs to think about their age and developmental
level when making this decision. 
Most experts agree that infants and young children up until about two and a half years old have a very
short attention span. They need continuity of care more than older toddlers and children. It is
possible that it may be best for the infant to remain in the physical custody of primary caretaker, while
having short but frequent visits with the non-custodial parent.
If you are(or are becoming) the non-custodial parent, this probably hard for you hear but you must
recognize the needs of your infant first. And remember, they grow up very fast. Before you know it,
your children will be older and ready to have longer(and possibly over-night) visits with you.
AND REMEMBER...The custodial parent should always recognize how difficult it is for the non-custodial parent. Be sensitive to the feelings of the non-custodial parent as they feel the loss of having their baby with them!!
Helping Children Cope with Divorce is a good book to read as it guides you through many of the issues regarding joint custody and the maze of helping your child with this turbulent time.
1st Stage of Development for an Infant(a very summarized summary!)When we first enter the world we have no concept that we are separate from other people. All we are trying to do is get our most basic needs met(food, sleep, and comfort level). This occurs within the first 3 months of life. From 3 months to 2 years old(if our basic needs are being met) we begin to trust the world around us and people we see in it. Constant change is disruptive to our lives. We wonder what change will happen next. We never feel comfortable with our surrounding or the people in it. If we don't have consistency in our life
we may become anxious and distrustful. And trust is a crucial element to developing healthy relationships in our lives. This is why providing a consistent environment with a uniform caregiver is a must!!
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