A 7-Month-Old Baby Spent Longer Hours In Daycare Than His Parents At Work

Babies in New Zealand below 12 months spent longer hours in daycare centers than adults in work, spending more than 40 hours per week. For experts this may be alarming but for Baby Brody Peters it's learning and great happines. He was put by his parents in Cubby House daycare at Palmenston North, where "he loves going there, he always has big smiles," reveals his mom.

Brad and Katie Peters, parents of Brody, took an 11-weeks maternity leave before placing their child in a daycare center. On October, they finally put their 7-month-old in Palmerston North's Cubby House daycare for five days in a week. Before going to work, they drop baby Brody to the daycare between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m., and then pick him up by 5:30 p.m.

Peters shared that the child loves going to the daycare and he always wear big smiles. "He spends a lot of time developing his skills," Katie said. It seems like baby Brody is learning so many things in daycare and having a fun time.

In fact, according to his mom, the child did some paintings and for the very first time has played at a sandpit. The mom added that though they were separated from their child, the child did not miss them because the daycare center strengthens what they are doing in their house.

Though it is hard for them to have their child in daycare, the Peters had no choice as they are both working fulltime and do not have anybody to help them. So the longer hours in daycare are a must.

However, a review made by Brainwave Trust has suggested that babies put in childcare for long hours can have health and behavioral risks, the Sunday Star Times has learned. The review discovered that children who went to daycare were more likely to show hyperactivity, aggression, problem with attachments and disobedience.

"Our research indicates that there may be risks involved with non-parental care "too early" and "for too long each day," the Scoop quoted the report of Brainwave Trust. However, despite the scientific credential of the trust, the study was reprimanded by industry of daycare but was supported by activists of family values.