I had an immediate opinion about this piece (http://www.mysanantonio.com/moms/Caregivers_watch_little_ones_in_wee_hours_so_parents_can_sleep.html) as soon as I read it. But, since I'm only a dad (of 3 pre-K girls), regardless that I also get up in the middle of the night, handle most bath times, share in bedtime stories, change diapers, etc. etc., I figured I would send it to my wife and see what she thought. She and I agree the vast majority of the time, so I thought it would be safe, and smart, to defer to her on this idea of nighttime nannies.
That evening I asked her if she read the article and what she thought. She said "Sounds like more outsourcing of parental duties." "That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!!" I love her.
How much more parental responsibility, one might say 'the parental experience', are we going to delegate to others? Putting babies/children in daycare because you have to go out to earn a living to make (reasonable) ends meet is one thing. But passing off the responsibility of soothing your baby in the middle of the night? Isn't that where part of the parental-child bond is formed?? No pain, no pain, right? But if that is your mantra, perhaps the parenting gig isn't for you.
I suppose soon some of these nannies will also offer breastfeeding as part of an a la carte menu.
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