Custody of a 6 Month Old

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: California.

I just left my husband. We are unable to come up with our own plan, so we are forced to go to court. I don't want to look like the evil mother/ex wife, so I want to draw up a reasonable visitation plan.

My daughter is 6 months old. She breastfeeds, besides dinner time where she eats some baby food. I have been the primary caregiver to her since birth, and my estranged husband really only watches her so I can take a shower and MAYBE an hour or so in the morning... only 3-4 times a week. Otherwise, it's all me.

My daughter obviously recognizes her dad but if she goes the whole day without seeing him, she's fine. He hasn't been to any of her drs appts (she has a heart condition) or her well baby appts. He also only came to 1 prenatal appt and 1 prenatal class. He has told me (don't know if it's considered in custody or not) that since I wanted her, now it's my job to take care of her. And that it's my job since I want to stay at home.

What would a judge/court in California suggest and what should I put on the papers?

An infant ideally has short visits with the NCP, and regularly. You might want to start reading right here.

CA is remarkably friendly to pro se litigants (those without an attorney).

I am sorry, I may be dunce, but I didn't really find any information on that website that was useful.

In anyone's experience, what would a judge or mediator suggest/order?

You mentioned short visits... is that like 3 hours a day, by himself, in my home, in a supervised agency? Will it be twice a week, every other day? When do overnights generally start with babies/younger children?

....okay then.


There is no standard for infant visitation in California. My earlier post did not consider that you were married to and living with Dad. Given those facts, the court will likely not have a problem with Dad having overnights very early on (if not from the get-go).

What does Dad want? Have you actually talked to him about it?