Babies in the Workplace

A number of people in other companies also mentioned that having babies in the workplace seemed to make non-parents much more comfortable with babies. For many people, the first time they spend any length of time in their adult life with babies is when their first child is born. This can be extremely intimidating for most people, and probably contributes to the insecurity many people feel with their first child. By being exposed to babies at work, people have the opportunity to learn how to hold a baby, how to comfort one, and to build their own confidence with babies. Considering how deeply many of the single men at these companies became attached to the babies at the company, it is entirely possible that, long-term, baby programs could increase the number of men who decide they want to have children, as well as potentially increase men's involvement with their children, since they will have more confidence in their abilities.

Change Society's View of Typical Baby Behavior

Many people in our society still believe that it is normal for babies to cry frequently and for long periods of time. As babies-in-the-workplace programs become more common, these happy babies will help change this perception. Baby programs teach people that if babies are held frequently, their needs are met promptly, they're primarily breastfed, and they have plenty of social interaction, they actually cry only minimally--and only enough to attract the attention of someone who will meet their immediate needs.

The contented babies who participated in these baby-to-work programs were not biologically different from other babies. They were just fortunate enough to be in a situation in which they had everything that babies need to be content.