Caring for an infant is hard, high-skilled work and something you want to get right. "Shaken baby" is a real thing and can lead to development disorders. A hands-on attentive caretaker has a very good ROI -- healthier, more communicative toddler and child. "You get what you pay for [or do yourself]" is a real thing for the first few years of a child's life, and having family nearby, which we fortunately did, was invaluable.