Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.
Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.
Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.

There are special considerations for infant visitation

On Behalf of | May 13, 2020 | blog, child custody | 0 comments

In Kentucky, parents will need to ease into a visitation schedule when it comes to an infant. Both parents should have access to the infant, but that father’s ability to spend time with the child will grow over time. Parents should expect that the arrangements will change through the years as the child gets older.

There are different challenges with visitation when the child is an infant. First, it is difficult for the infant to stay overnight with the parent who is not the primary caregiver. While this could happen after time, the court generally would not order overnight visitation until the child turns three. Second, the difficulties could be accentuated by the fact that the mother is breastfeeding. However, there are things that can be done such as pumping that may allow the father to see the child. If there are legitimate issues with breastfeeding it could limit access, but it should not be used as a cover for other reasons why the father should not see the child.

Ideally, the parents would work together to allow for access to the infant. The mother would be comfortable with some sort of access, while the father should not expect more than is possible while the child is an infant. This would help the parents arrive at a visitation schedule that is in the best interests of the child.

A parent may be best served by obtaining the advice of a child custody lawyer. The attorney might help their client negotiate an agreement that provides for a reasonable level of access. If the other parent is not being cooperative, the attorney may take the matter to family court so a judge can issue a ruling. The presence of a lawyer might help the parties focus on reaching an agreement without the need for court.

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Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.