Parenting Plan for Babies: 9 to 18 Months of Age
In this post we will go through the developmental stage and appropriate parenting plan for babies who are defined as from the age of 9 to 18 months...
As discussed in the previous blog post “How a Child’s Developmental Age Can Impact the Parenting Plan” and “Parenting Plan for Infants”, we discussed how the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC-Ontario) created the Parenting Guidelines. These Guidelines take into consideration research conducted on how a child’s age and development stage is affected by separation. The guidelines are meant to help parents and professionals create the best child-focused parenting plan according to their circumstances. In the last post, we discussed the appropriate parenting plan for infants, defined as those from birth to 9 months.
In this post we will go through the developmental stage and appropriate parenting plan for babies who are defined as from the age of 9 to 18 months. In this stage, the baby’s development is rapid, and the baby will increase their motor and communication skills, begin expressing emotions, and start understanding actions around them. The baby should have a consistent schedule of waking, sleeping, and eating in order to develop self-regulation and self-soothing skills.
When making a parenting plan, the regular routine of a baby needs to be taken into consideration. According to the Guidelines, when developing a parenting plan for babies, the following factors should be taken into consideration:
· the amount of prior involvement each parent had with the baby, including
caretaking routines and experience with childcare activities;
· the ability of each parent to be responsive to the baby’s needs;
· the baby’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development; and
· the baby’s temperament.
Some babies have a difficult time transitioning between parents during this stage, and if this is the case, then it may be necessary for the baby to stay with one parent while having regular contact with the other parent. The regularity of the contact will depend on the availability of the parent, as well as the temperament and sensitivity of the baby towards the adult. If both parents had consistent care of the baby before separating during the 9 to 18 months, then it may be appropriate to have a shared parenting arrangement whereby the baby will split their time every couple of days with either parent. If one of the parents was less involved in the parenting and childcare time before the parties separated, then this parent needs to be actively involved in the baby’s childcare routine such as feeding the baby, bathing, and putting the baby to sleep. The parent should visit their baby at least every few days and increase their time spent with the baby. If the parent is responsive to the baby’s needs and can maintain the baby’s schedule, then the parent may be able to care for the baby overnight.
It is recommended that the parents keep a communication log about the baby’s eating, sleeping and developmental changes. Parents should exchange the log after every visit. It is also important that the parents remain respectful and neutral towards each other, as a baby can become stressed if the parents argue in front of the baby. It is important to remember that babies are attuned to the emotions and can sense the tension between the parents. When developing a parenting plan for the baby, it is important to remember that the plan must be in the best interest of the baby and must take into account their schedule and development.
You can find a link to the Parenting Guide here: https://afccontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFCC-O-Parenting-Plan-Guide-Version-2.0-December-2021-.pdf. You can find the parenting plan template here: https://afccontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFCC-O-Parenting-Plan-Template-Version-2.0-December-2021.pdf.
To note, the above should not be taken as legal advice, and if you have any questions or concerns about your case please speak to a lawyer. To find out how we can help you with your matter, please visit our website at https://www.grantleelaw.ca/ or call us at 905-315-6837 to book your consultation now.
