Babies in the Workplace

get sick far less frequently, and far less severely, than formula-fed babies, due to the targeted antibodies they constantly receive from their mothers while nursing. A study looking at sick days taken by mothers of breastfed babies versus formula-fed babies found that there were far fewer illnesses among the breastfed babies and far fewer sick days taken by their mothers.

   In addition, child care facilities are considered by many to be a breeding ground for germs. By going to work with their parents instead, babies won't be exposed to as many germs in those first few sensitive months.

   Kerry Olson explained that the baby program at the North Dakota Department of Health

   was successful for two reasons. The
   employees of the divisions are informed that

   a baby will be coming to work and are
   encouraged to inform their supervisors of
   concerns or ideas. Also, the mothers
   generally return to work earlier because
   they can continue to directly care for and
   feed the baby for another four or five
   months. It allows them to be more
   comfortable because their baby is with
   them rather than at a daycare provider

   Parents tend to be more worried about their babies when they are away from them. Bringing their babies to work during those first months will lower stress for parents, which will make the parents much less prone to succumbing to illnesses themselves. A new baby can be very stressful for couples. A baby
program helps minimize many of these stresses. It eliminates the need to find--and pay for--good day care for a very young infant, and it helps parents avoid working two different schedules to avoid putting their infant in day care. It saves new