Is this damaging to the children?

[Lou780]

I just read a thread about a mother and father sharing custody of a 5 month old and lots of people thought it was damaging to the baby because of attachment theory.

It got me thinking about my friends situation. Is this damaging to her grandchildren? Her adult dd lives 4 hrs away with her boyfriend and 2 children. A 2 Yr old boy and a 5 month old girl. There are mental health issues with both of the adults.
Myfriend drives the 4 hrs every 2 weeks and picks up one of the children then drives the 4 hrs home with them
She keeps the child for couple of weeks then drives them back and swaps out for the other child. This has been going on for about 2 months now and she has currently had the 5month old for nearly 3 weeks this time.
Surely this is not good for the babies? The 5month old must just get settled with a new carer and it's all change again! Plus the siblings are never actually together.
I understand my friend wants to support her daughter and she needs help but surely this is damaging the babies?

No it is not good- if the mother cannot cope full time perhaps your friend should have both kids full time.

It does sound very unsettling and far from ideal. It’s probably better than the kids being left with the parents though if they can’t cope with both kids. Are SS involved? Are they happy with this arrangement? If they’re not involved it sounds like they probably should be. Any option for one side to move closer? It doesn’t sound like the kind of situation that could/should carry on long term.