I’ve been fostering for over a decade now, and my heart has always been with the youngest children, babies and toddlers, and with parent-and-child placements. It’s a role that’s both deeply emotional and incredibly rewarding.
When you foster babies, you’re stepping into a child’s life at a time when they’re most vulnerable. Some of the little ones I’ve cared for have come from heartbreaking situations. I remember one two-year-old who had learned to forage for food and open the front door to get help. It’s hard to hear stories like that, but it’s important to understand where these children are coming from. Their experiences are often very different from our own children’s upbringing.
Day-to-day, fostering a baby means doing everything you would for your own child, feeding, changing, playing, comforting, and attending medical appointments. You’re their main carer, and you’re there 24/7. You get to witness all their firsts: first smiles, first steps, first words. It’s a privilege, but also a responsibility. I always make sure to document those moments, not just for the records, but because one day that child might want to know what life was like when they were with me.
Parent-and-child placements are a unique part of fostering. You’re not just caring for a baby, you’re supporting a parent, often a young mum, through a critical time in her life. Some of these mums have experienced trauma or neurodiversity and need guidance to bond with and care for their child. I’ve had placements where the parent couldn’t continue, and the baby went on to be adopted. One little boy I cared for now lives abroad and speaks three languages fluently. He still calls me “Mama Bear” and sends me videos. That connection stays with you.
Fostering babies also means navigating contact with birth families. Some babies see their parents several times a week, especially if breastfeeding is involved. It’s important to keep communication open, often through a daily diary or contact book, so parents stay involved in their child’s development.
There are challenges, of course, sleep deprivation, emotional attachment, and the unpredictability of placements. But there’s also support. ßÙßÇÂþ» offers buddy systems, respite options, and guidance on everything from equipment to paperwork. You’re never alone.
For me, fostering babies and supporting parents isn’t just a role, it’s a calling. These early years are so important, and being there to offer love, stability, and guidance can change a child’s life forever. I’ve never regretted leaving nursing to do this. It’s the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.
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