To feel sad seeing a 7 week old baby at DC's nursery today

[comfysketchers]

Dropping my 15 month old off at nursery today before work and there was another woman there at the same time handing over a 7 week old sleeping baby.

He was absolutely tiny and I just felt so sad looking at him thinking that he barely even knows he is out of the womb and his mum is dropping him off to spend all day with strangers in a noisy nursery environment.

I should also add that I live in a country that has excellent parental leave from the government plus most private companies pay at least 10 weeks of full pay on top of that, with many paying much more than that.

YABU - It’s perfectly normal for a 7 week old baby to spend 8 hours per day in a nursery.

YANBU - A 7 week old baby should be at home with its mum.

What option do I vote for to indicate that it’s none of your business?

Well this is a nice thread.

Without knowing what's going on (and you don't), I wouldn't judge.

I highly doubt the parents feel great about this either OP.

This.

Wow, judgemental much?

Not your baby, not your business

That breaks my heart but you have absolutely no knowledge of the circumstances and it’s 1000% none of your business.

You know nothing about why the baby is there. It's also none of your business. Stop judging people.

You have no idea why the mum is doing this. There are all sorts of reasons why it might be necessary. I agree that it's a bit sad for the baby, but your post sounds a bit judgy towards the mother when personally I feel a bit sad for her too.

This. It's not your business.

Maybe the mother has no choice!
you don’t know the circumstances

I'd feel sad for the parents feeling they need to do that for whatever reason. And for the baby, yes.

I'm surprised there are places that take them so young tbh.

What country?

What is the standard government leave (I bet it's not 10 weeks full pay)

Maybe this poor mum works for a company who doesn't have a good maternity package?

Ultimately it's none of your business.

What if the Mum is off to a funeral for a close relative and needed someone short term?

Or is ill herself and needs regular hospital treatment? Would you rather a baby sit in a chemo ward?

Or what if she's caring for a relative/friend/twin of the baby who needs a lot of hands on support and she doesn't want the baby being neglected?

It's a pity everyone doesn't live in a perfect world isn't it?

As per the first reply, I'm sure you'll get a bit of a bashing on here, but for what it's worth, I agree with you. It's a shame for the baby, and if the parents have no option, it's a real shame for them too. On a more positive note, at least the baby will be used to it from an early age, so there is no traumatic transition period as they get older!

I had to put my DD in nursery when she was 10 weeks old. Absolutely no choice. She’s turned out fine though and loves her mum (me).

Of course it’s not normal but assuming that you’re in the UK, it’s obvious that there is some sort of extreme circumstances going on here and maybe it is in the baby’s interest to be at nursery during the day?

The centre takes from 6 weeks (after first lot of immunisations) but the staff told me they have never had a baby so young before

Wait til you hear about surrogacy!!!

Do you know that was the mother and not a social worker dropping the child off? Does your judgement extend to the baby's father or is it just the mother's disgraceful behaviour that results in the child being in childcare?
You have no idea what the circumstances are behind that situation and I say that as someone who took nearly 14 months mat leave.

I worked at a nursery when I was a student and there was a family there who had their baby in from seven weeks old (the youngest the nursery would take them), even though only one parent worked. He was there five days a week. I couldn’t even begin to understand it and I felt so sorry for him. He was so, so small to be away from his primary caregivers for the vast majority of the week.

Why don’t you look after him then?

Yes 7 weeks is very little but it’s not your place to judge!

Maybe she's self employed? No maternity benefits then.

I did it at 6 weeks albeit at a wonderful childminder but yeah mind your own business.

Mums supporting mums eh?

MYOB.

You do realise that some people would look at your 15 month old and say exactly the same thing?