Babies in the Workplace

cultures by anthropologists that, "babies just don't cry there," explaining that it's essentially unheard-of to hear a screaming baby in Guatemala, in spite of the fact that most Americans believe that all babies cry for long periods of time.

   Gay Gaddis, CEO of T3, mentioned that

   A lot of different parents have created their
   own community and trade stories. It's like
   a support group in here--especially for the
   first kid. People ease each other's fears.

   She explained that some of the women who brought in babies around the same
time hired a nanny together since their children already knew each other. She said that having babies in the workplace enabled people to "help solve each other's problems and pass on information."

   Nica Waters said that when her first son was born, she was "living in the middle of

nowhere with no neighbors." As she put it, "I went raving bananas." She started bringing her son with her to her job as an administrator at Tandem Friends School when he was only ten days old and spent time at the school even when she wasn't working. When her daughter was born, she brought her in while she worked. She said, "I would have a hard time being home full time--I figured that out really quickly with my son. I need some other stimulation." Nica added:

   There's something to be said for the ease
   with which you can pick a kid up and tend to
   them, and you realize it's not interfering with
   work as much as might be thought by
   someone who hasn't done it. Particularly
   when they are teeny tiny, which is when
   moms most need a connection with
   humans that can talk back to you. I had a
   tough time with 'eat, sleep, nothing else.' It
   was just as easy to be at school nursing
   him as at home nursing, unshowered and
   not having human conversations.