How are kids treated/scheduled in orphanges?

Kim

My children both spent time in Russian orphanages, too.

The yogurt mixture was probably kefir. Many Russians drink it in lieu of milk. (But it's too thick and sour for my tastes!) From what I understand, it is pretty healthy... but my kids only got kefir once a day. Otherwise they ate "compote" (stewed fruit juice) and soup. (Both were undernourished when they left the orphanage, but not starving). If you want to try kefir, you can buy it in the US at Russian groceries or sometimes at specialty grocers like Whole Foods.

My kids' both spent time in orphanages, but their personalities are different. Like you describe yourself, people commented all the time about what an easy-going and "good baby" my son was. But it's not necessarily a good thing. He didn't expect his needs to be met, so he didn't bother communicating them. (Now he lets us know what he wants/needs, but at first he did not. To others that was a "good baby.") My DD was the exact opposite. Wherever she was, she *demanded* attention. (The orphanage staff said "She thinks she is a queen." I didn't fully appreciate what they meant until later.) I think both ways are orphanage survival skills, but neither are particularly healthy.

Although I'm glad you have had a good life and have grown up into a fine person, I do not think giving your kids "the orphanage experience" is a good plan. Although you might get what you're looking for, a non-crying baby, the "costs" in terms of physical and emotional health are pretty high, too.

icehockeymom7

The orphanage told your AP's you were a rare crier, and you probably were. That's what happens when you are left to cry for hours and hours and finally learn that no one comes.....you give up on crying. They fed you that mixture *maybe*.....they will also tell AP's alot of things that don't happen. Most children adopted from orphanages are severely malnourished and emotionally injured from neglect. So, if you are asking a serious question, no it would not be valuable for your kids to go to an orphanage for 10 months or to be treated as if they are in an orphanage for 10 months.

Randy B

My daughter entered the Indian orphanage she was adopted from when she was 2 days old and she remained there till she was 8 months old.

During that time she lay there. She would be changed when they had time and she would be picked up when they had time. When it was time for food they came around with bottles, proped it up sticking in her mouth with a pillow next to her head. If she happened to turn her head, if the bottle fell out or if she choked a bit and spit it out nobody was there to place it back again. After 20 minutes or so, when they came back and she still hadn't finished the bottle they would assume that she was not hungry and that was the end of feeding time.

As a result, at 8 months old she was malnourished and under stimulated, weighing only 10 lbs (4.5 kgs). She couldn't sit up. She couldn't roll over. She couldn't hold her own bottle. She never bothered to cry very much.

Do I blame them much for her earlier treatment? Not at all. The orphanage was run by Mother Theresa's organization and they do great work. They also happened to be overworked, under supported and overwhelmed with infants and children of all ages and states of ability, disability and health. They did the best they could with what they had and genuinely cared about the children.

Our youngest was adopted this past summer and she was never in an orphanage. She came to us direct from the hospital after she was legally removed from her birth mother. She also never cries and if there is any sort of food in front of her, dairy or other, it's gone and she handles it all with little to no problems.

While there is always the possibility that your abilty to handle milk products and your tendency not to cry as an infant could be related to that time I would suspect that it's more just a case of "thats just the way you were".

DevonChaos

You do realize that putting them in an orphanage would keep you from being able to raise them, right? You would be putting them up for adoption. It isn't a babysitting service for you. Nor is it a training service. That orphanage is there to help babies find parents. Not to help babies find better habits and be "rare criers".

I can only hope you aren't being serious.

Rowan

Seriously no. The yogurt mixture was more then likely the bare minumun needed to keep you alive, and might even have contained something to keep you quiet.

You probabaly stopped crying because noone came to answer you.

Jennifer L

Well, if your needs were met on a regular basis you had a much better orphanage experience than most other children living in overseas institutions.

Yogurt may or may not have been helpful to you. Some children simply have easier tummies than others.

kims

At the orphanage my children were at, we saw that every day after lunch they were to drink a big glass of milk and have their medicine. Then they all slept for three hours. The medicine was apparently an equivalent of Benadryl and knocked them all right out.

Independ"ant"

It depends on the country, region and more importantly the people in charge.

I've been to a few in Guatemala and the kids are far from starving.
There are onsite physicians, a school with tutors, psychologists and therapists..etc.

I wouldn't really call them orphanages because the kids aren't orphans. Its more like a temporary home due to the economy and financial hardships their parent(s) are facing.

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