Before a judge will address visitation schedules for infants and newborns, paternity must be established.
Connecticut presumes that the Husband is the biological father of a child born during the marriage. This presumption can be overcome by clear and satisfactory evidence that the Husband is not the child’s natural father. In today’s world, that usually means DNA testing.
Paternity can also be established when the biological father signs an Acknowledgement of Paternity.
Once paternity is confirmed, the Family Court can consider visitation and custody orders.
Unless there are legitimate fitness issues, babies should be allowed to bond with both parents.
So what should the schedule look like?
Most experts agree that shorter and more frequent visits are best for infants and newborns. For example, a typical schedule might be every other day for 2 hours rather than one long full day visit once per week.
Adhering to a visitation schedule early on is important for the healthy, psychological development of a child.
It also necessary for parents, from the beginning, to form a productive co-parenting relationship so they can work together in the best interest of the child. The “romantic” aspect of the relationship may have ended but the co-parenting relationship will bind the parents for the rest of their lives. Get off on the right foot.
Regardless of what the initial visitation schedule might be, it will need to be adjusted (perhaps several times) based on the changing needs of the child.