Would you hand a 6 month old to a 6 year old ??

[sunnystarr]

What kind of mother or father for that matter does this? When my children were that young and wanted to hold a baby they could only do it if they sat on the sofa with me right next to them. Even then I'd be nervous. I find it appalling that Piper is handed Trigg ... even when standing ... and noone even watches them.

Since Trigg is a special needs baby it seems to me that an adult should be giving him the special needs care and concern. It's almost as if Trigg wasn't a baby at all the way they act - instead he's passed down to Piper like he was a big doll.

Rant over ... exit right

[Buzz Clik]

1. Yes. That little girl is clearly capable of tending to the baby.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Yes, I particularly liked her holding the baby (inadequate head support) and licking her fingers to

smooth down his hair. :eyes:

No, until an infant is 10 months, he/she NEEDS head support that a six year old is not capable of consistently providing. Sure she can hold the baby but WITH STRICT SUPERVISION. From what I've seen, that monitoring is not happening. :(

[Buzz Clik]

11. One needs to know the capabilities of their children.

The little girl is comfortable with the baby and does just fine.

Teaching kids how to be responsible can never start too soon. I really don't see a problem with this, and thrashing about accusing Palin of being a bad mother will get nowhere.

[Marrah_G]

17. I agree completely on this one

The little girl did just fine and looked comfortable.

It's my opinion that most kids are too spoiled these days. Kids are capable of far more then we give them credit for.

I do take a little issue with the child being carried around that late at night in such a big crowd. It's not what I would do, but I don't think it makes her the devil either.

[shraby]

18. It should NEVER be done! A six year old has

no understanding of what would/could happen if the baby jerked backward. I was dropped on my head when 2 years old by a 16 yr. old who also wasn't prepared for a sudden movement like that. I couldn't raise my head and was horribly pigeon-toed in one foot for a long time. The doctor told my parents in essence "what you see is what you got" Fortunately they took me to a chiropractor (62 yrs. ago) and he straightened me back out. I shudder to this day whenever I see a child carrying a baby.

[ShortnFiery]

26. No, a six year old's behavior is NOT consistent. It would just take one jerk to cause severe damage

No, it's like leaving a dog alone with a baby. I was blessed to train and have my K-9 Therapy Dog International certified. She is as gentle as a lamb, but her brain is not the same as that of even a pre-teen human. A YOUNG CHILD (under the age of 10) can NOT fully appreciate the importance of their own actions.

To be brutal, young children (under 10) are intelligent but often have the attention span of a GNAT. Don't risk leaving a baby with them or your gentle pups.

Never say "never."

[traveller]

51. You said is well. Thanks.

[vanbean]

48. I thought I was the only one who caught that

I have a three young children and the oldest is 7 years older than the 1 year old. I never would have let her walk up and down steps holding the baby, especially when I noticed she wasn't supporting the babies head or back. Sitting down Yes, walking NO.

[Roxy66]

53. I was nervous as well when she handed him off.

I suppose that little girl has become the babysitter in essence.

[babylonsister]

2. I had visions of that little girl carrying that baby falling down steps, or

dropping the kid. That would have been great tv-not!

It seems mom had more important things to do then be a mom; I was appalled, too.

[livedemocarticordie]

33. agree

my husband and I were aghast..it looked like she was going to fall down the stairs. If you are at home and diapering the baby, sure have the 6 year old run into the other room and get the wipes, but no she should not be holding a baby like that (head flopping around)

[goclark]

40. Me too ~ link to my thread

from yesterday....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7282873&mesg_id=7282873

I taught Kgn./1st and 2nd for a number of years.

Not to say people don't have young ones carry siblings but generally their ability to anticipate possible problems is not fine tuned.

In such exciting setting, I would have a caring adult responsible for all the little ones.

Sarah didn't have a clue what the children were getting along.
Nor did she seem to care.

If she didn't care about her own children, how can she be responsible 24/7 as the VP? :shrug:

[rvablue]

56. I just held my breath at the point

that little Piper was teetering down the stairs with the baby in her arms to go shake Gwen Ifill's hand at the end.

Piper seemed so cute and open to the crowds at the beginning of all of this. It's almost like she is clutching the baby, like she is sad or lost or lonely without her mom.

Why the hell wasn't the husband or the older teenager holding the baby?

I'm thinking all of this, and guess what, I don't have any kids. It's just common sense.

[AFSCME girl]

3. I noticed that, as well.

At one point, I cringed when I saw the little girl shift him upwards on her shoulder - I thought the little guy was gonna go flying!

That would have been the day when my Mom and Dad allowed me to handle a baby that young.....

[Rockholm]

4. Why won't Todd ever hold the baby?

Too busy knocking Sarah out of the way to shake Gwen Ifill's hand. Too funny.

[peace13]

22. I agree.

Can you see a man running for VP and when the fam gets to the stage the wife hands the baby to dad? I don't think so. Todd = deadbeat. Sarah = irresponsible.

[w8liftinglady]

44. that's what I thought.I haven't seen him hold the baby

[seabeyond]

5. NO. and let her walk down steps ect.... NO. i wouldnt have baby up at that time. i

wouldnt have ignored baby for first five minutes. he would have been the first i would have gone to, checked on, and put in my arms.

nothing of this woman have i thought maternal

cindy mccain on the ther hand, i have gained a respect cause more than a couple times i have AT LEAST seen maternal

[Changenow]

7. His father loves him

[faithfulcitizen]

10. lol.

[seabeyond]

14. oh yes.... i showed picture to my oldest. i said, what does that picture say to you

family, love, father loving on his baby

even a 13 yr old can see.

[faithfulcitizen]

8. Me & my mother were appalled as well- yelling at her through the tv. She wasn't holding his head &

very well could have fallen on those steps. She's reckless with her own children, why should we trust her with the country?

[sunnystarr]

20. lol I was yelling toooooo and my bp was going through

the roof! To me there's a connection with Palin's lack of concern for Trigg and her actions after those emotional moments for Biden - talking about the death of his wife and daughter and caring for his seriously injured sons and then choking up when talking about his son in Iraq - Palin totally ignored Biden even though she should have shared Biden's sentiments with Track on the way to Iraq. Instead she plowed ahead as if nothing was said at a time when the audience had lumps in their throat as well. It all points to one inescapable fact - to Sarah there is only Sarah and all thoughts and actions center around Sarah. This narcissism is disturbing and frightening.

[KansDem]

9. Maybe they didn't want to handle their grandchild at that moment so they let an aunt do it...

I see aunts take care of children all the time!

}(

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. small children are usually only allowed to hold babies when sitting under adult supervision

[Chorophyll]

13. I wouldn't have brought the baby to the damn debate

at 9:00 at night. Palin holds him like a prop. She's a narcissist -- all her children are props.

[MattNC]

23. I actually agree

I'm normally reserved about this kind of stuff, but they do seem to be showing off the kid every chance they get. One thing I really admire the Obamas about is they've limited how much they have the girls at rallies. I was actually surprised they were involved as the convention as much as they were.

[xxqqqzme]

49. Exactly -what the hell was that baby doing there

in the first place? He's what? 5 months old? The over stimulation of lights, noise, voices, jostling the child would have kept my kids up for hours. I loved how she was quick to point out she has a 'special needs' child but failed to mention she cut the funding for the Alaskan program.

Right to point out - even at the publican's convention, when they were passing the child around like a football.

[Karenina]

54. How many people backstage were nursing colds?

Everyone shaking hands, some sneezing, others coughing, while Triggerkins gets passed around like a sack of potatoes... NO ONE touched my infants before washing their hands UP TO THE ELBOWS. They were not exposed to crowds before they were 6 mos. old. That was 1/4 century ago. Today, when my young friends present their babies to me, the FIRST THING Tante Karenina does is run to the nearest sink and wash her hands UP TO THE ELBOWS.

[Bettie]

55. For that matter, what was the 6 year old doing there?

That is too late at night for young children to be up. Kids need sleep and they need schedules.

I have a seven year old, a six year old, and a 3 week old baby. Now my "big" boys both hold their little brother, but they are ALWAYS supervised and generally sitting down while doing it.

[Loge23]

15. Something's just not right with that picture

Frankly, why was that sleeping infant child there at all - other than to provide the Governor with a prop?
I can see the other kids, but this is an infant forcryingoutloud! Let the poor child sleep!
I don't know what it is about that tableau, but something is just not right.
The Governor's husband doesn't go near that child for one - I'm not suggesting anything beyond that, but I find it unusual to say the least.

[me b zola]

16. That made me uncomfortable too

That and why the heck was toting the baby around at 11:00pm?

[CherokeeDem]

19. First off...what was an infant doing in that situation anyway?????

I will say upfront, I do not have children. But that debate arena was not a place for an infant and I also believe that the little six year old girl should not have been carrying that baby. I agree, teaching them responsibility is important and obviously, the child feels comfortable with the baby. But six olds are easily distracted and that stage was unfamiliar. Potential disaster, which thankfully, didn't happen, but should have never been a possibility. I think it was a poor choice by the mother and disdainful. If the baby was going to be there one of her adult children or her husband should have been holding the baby. Makes me wonder about family values.

[sammytko]

35. I don't have kids either, but this makes me cringe also

whenever they have him outside, he is not wearing any kind of head protection - not just to cover his hairless little head, but to shield his eyes from the sun or his ears from drafts. Nothing worse than a baby with an earache.

They've had him out on a windy taxiway several times. Maybe I'm old fashioned but in my family the baby's head was always covered.

[TwilightGardener]

21. No. I get the same feeling, seeing a little kid carrying a baby, as I do

when a toddler stands up on the seat of a shopping cart--pure alarm.

[Orsino]

24. Quite possibly.

I believe that an older sister should hold a younger sometimes, and gradually be extended more and more trust. It's quite common for young kids to assist in the raising of babies, and in this case I'm inclined to give Palin a pass--but that assumes a history of training which may not have occurred.

[DoctorMyEyes]

28. I wouldn't assume

I, for one, wouldn't assume a history of proper training in this case. By who? When? From everything I've observed of the Palins' it's all about her and her ambitions. She's far too busy and her husband doesn't seem to give two shits what's going on so long as he's at the party.

Edited to add: The mere fact that she kept her pregnancy a secret from her children for so long is an indication that there weren't any preparations or sibling involvement. That is one of the things that really creeps me out about her on a personal level. That she would spring a new baby brother on them with so little warning. That she EXCLUDED her children from a such a huge family event. (Yet drags them around in the public like stage props!)

[CherokeeDem]

31. Hiding the "pregnancy" is exactly...

why I am still not convinced the baby is hers. And if it is, so much for family values.

[seabeyond]

36. over 18 hours without medical care while leaking is what has me NOT convinced

no woman..... NONE could be that stupid

but a self centered, non maternal woman

ok, maybe palin

[Orsino]

37. I have no choice but to assume that.

I've seen no evidence that intervention is called for. In any case, the six-year-old has had several months to learn how to hold the baby safely.

I've seen very little footage, though, and can't say how well she does. Did you spot any specific warning signs?

[madwivoter]

25. No.

'Also'...

If I had a special needs child, I would NOT refer to my child as a 'special needs' child whenever I talked about my child.

:eyes: :thumbsdown:

[grandpappy]

27. Let's not forget the father!

He never seems to be holding the child. My wife works with children with disabilities for a living and she went ballistic. Children with Downs syndrome and can and will have muscle spasms from time to time and no child that little should be allowed to handle that baby.

[Barack_America]

29. No. For two reasons...

1. The safety of the baby. I don't know if a 6-year old's arms are strong enough to hold a baby that size while standing.

2. I've seen too many girls who were primary caregivers for their mother's children become young mothers themselves (for whatever reason, this not something that I understand, but something that I've observed many times)

[seabeyond]

34. #2. you are so right on. when mine were young i refused to make my son, 2 yrs old

the parent of my younger. i have seen too many mothers shift responsibility to the oldest as if they are the parent, when the child is still a baby himself. i have watched children get their butts chewed out when something happened and really little ones and they are still little and i am thinking, hey mom..... your job, not the kid

so when i was in that situation i made it clear, was MY job to take care of, watch the baby, sons role was to love the other

[AngryAmish]

30. Take those kids away - she's a monster.

Soulless evil incarnate.

[tannybogus]

32. I think that 6 year old

holds that baby quite a lot. I think those children have raised themselves or have been raised by wolves.

I doubt that since Palin shoots wolves, and wolves would do a better job than the First Dude and his wife.

[Raschel]

38. Those kids have been severely neglected

"Raised by wolves" is a great way to put it. They look poor and sad.

[ShortnFiery]

39. And if Wifey didn't have a good job, I get the impression that "The First Dude" would be a

typical - ABSENT, deadbeat ex-husband/dad. :(

[uponit7771]

41. I would've had my baby in the fuckin bed!!! There's NO WAY I would've brought them to the debate

...and we can NOW tell they're using the baby as a prop

[gal]

42. I to thought it was odd for her to be carrying him around on stage.

My first thought was she isn't supporting his neck, the baby seems to be handed off alot. My 6 month old would be in bed at 10:30pm.(unless I needed him for a photo op of course)

[L0oniX]

43. No I wouldn't ...and I wouldn't keep a 6 month old baby up that late at night.

[hamsterjill]

45. Todd?

Some people think it's okay for the younger daughter to hold the baby. That's fine with me. But I don't think she should be expected to hold him while walking with him in a crowded situation. If she loves him and wants to hold him while she is sitting down, I think that's sweet.

But it was definitely careless of the parents to allow that young girl to carry that baby on the steps of the airplane and on the stage last night. And who held him in the audience during the entire 90 minute debate? A 15 pound baby can get pretty heavy while you are sitting in a chair in an auditorium trying to be still and quiet.

It's strange to me that Todd does not have the baby in his arms a lot more often. Most fathers that I know will pick up their children and carry them when the children are going to need to be held or carried for any length of time. And the simple reason for most men doing that is because the children get very heavy after a few minutes.

Since I seem to get chastised almost every time I say anything about the Palin children, let me be very clear. NO, I'm not saying that mothers are not capable of holding their children either. NO, I'm not saying that older siblings are never capable of holding a younger sibling, nor am I saying that at times they shouldn't be expected to help out a little. But the welfare and safety of that baby is always ultimately the responsibility of Sarah and Todd. It is their responsibility to make sure that, if the other siblings hold him, that he is still safe and secure. And I don't believe he was safe and secure ENOUGH on the steps of that airplane with that younger daughter holding him.

I am also simply remarking that I find it odd that Todd doesn't hold the baby more often. Sarah's hands need to be freed up because she is shaking hands, etc. She is the candidate. He is not.

[area51]

47. Todd

I think the reason Todd isn't seen holding Trigg is that Trigg is his grandson. :shrug:

[olegramps]

46. The baby is a political prop

I can not help to wonder just what were her intentions when she insisted that although she was in labor to return to Alaska.

[tomg]

50. With a parent there and under

calm circumstances and with the older child really learning ( and I agree with everything said about head support), I think it is great. Incidentally, I say that as a parent with four sons and our older three boys helping with their much younger brother was wonderful for them and for him - for their bonding with him and for all of them learning that taking care of children is what people do.

What I saw last night was really disturbing and - given the crowd, the activity and all else - nothing short of dangerous. Frankly, the baby should have been home with the first doof. Incidentally, why don't we see Captain Snowmachine taking care of Trig?

[mary195149]

52. I can't even believe anyone can justify

Piper holding the baby is okay. Piper is walking around not holding the baby correctly. She needs all her strength to just put her arms around the baby's lower back. While she is walking, she is holding the baby without supporting the baby's back or head. The little baby is about 15 lbs, Piper is probably about 50 lbs. Sarah is clearly not the mother of the year!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. hell no

Sarah is a freakin idiot and a horrid mother.

[Erin Elizabeth]

58. That isn't the thing that really bothered me.

She handed him off to the six year old then turned her back on both of them. The six year old is obviously pretty short. She was getting lost in the shuffle of all those people and no single adult seemed to be in charge of keeping an eye on the child WITH the baby.

See where I'm going?

It worries.