In ancient Greece, babies were often left by the road or in the garbage. If a passer-by took the child, it was often raised for the slave market. This is because children were considered private property.
The Romans followed the custom to put a newborn on the ground just after birth. If the father picked the baby up, the mother could care for it. If not, the newborn was thrown away.
When Greeks and Romans did decide to raise their offspring, they showed them love and attention. Plato wrote that parents have the duty to care for their children's physical and mental development.