We have previously written that parental divorce can have a profoundly negative impact on children, especially if the divorce is particularly bitter or contentious. That's why literature about divorce often advises couples to put their children's needs at the center of child custody proceedings and to remember that divorce is tough on everyone in the family.

But are all children, even babies, impacted by their parents' divorce? Should divorcing couples in Georgia and elsewhere be concerned about the potential emotional damage to their infant children?

According to fatherhood-advice author and columnist Armin Brott, the answer is "yes." In a recent advice column article, the father of a six-month-old child told Brott that he was concerned that if he and his wife divorced, it would be emotionally detrimental to his infant son.

Brott, who goes by "Mr. Dad" in his column, told the reader that children this age are too young to understand divorce, but they are very good at sensing the emotions of their parents and other adults around them. Therefore, a baby is likely to be most negatively impacted if there is suddenly a lot of tension and fighting in the household, or if one parent is suddenly not around anymore.

Brott's advice to this concerned father was to keep focusing on his child's needs. No matter what he and his wife decided about living arrangements, it was important for both parents to have daily time with their son, stick to a routine and make sure that the baby's physical and emotional needs were being met.

This seems like good advice for helping older children weather their parents' divorce as well.

Many counselors and therapists would agree that divorce will inevitably cause changes and disruptions to a child's world, but these do not have to have a lingering negative effect. If both parents place appropriate focus on meeting the needs of their child, he will understand that his parents are divorcing each other but they are not divorcing him.

Source: The Seattle Times, "Ask Mr. Dad: Don't divorce your baby," Armin Brott, Jan. 19, 2012