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I favor dirt and worms, as soon as it becomes feasible to have them, over hydroponics for the first generations of Martian settlement because of the moving parts issue. If you can bring the microbes and worms from Earth along with the minimum of chemical fertilizer, then treat some regolith as described further up this thread, you have dirt. Dirt+organic waste+attention=more dirt. A hydroponics setup, however, has parts that wear out, and until the Martians can make replacements on Mars from raw materials, those parts will have to come from Earth. On the other hand, a hydroponics setup can produce lots more food in much less space, and don't some versions double as water purifiers . . . ? I think a permanent base should start with a double hydroponics/dirt setup, then go to all dirt as parts wear out, then back to hydroponics when Martians are doing their own manufacturing.
Obviously, the bare bones of the Mars Direct mission is not a suitable infrastructure. But what is?
If we have enough people there long enough, children will be conceived whether the infrastructure is there or not. Unless crewmembers are sterilized, random chance will eventually see to it.
So, since they're coming anyway, what's required to raise children?
CME
For moms and infants:
1. Lots of water and good food. Nursing will be the absolute best way to feed a baby because all you need to make human milk are a healthy woman, plenty of water, and lots of good food. But the mom MUST have the water and food. There must be a reliable surplus of each, preferably from about a year before conception, for maximum health of mother and baby.
2. Dads, co-moms, aunties, uncles, mother's helpers, babysitters--in short, allomothers. Babies eat time in an unbelievable way. The colony must be able to spare the mom and at least one other person (doesn't have to be the same person) at all times. This should begin no later than the third trimester.
3. Privacy, for the sake of everyone's nerves. Colicky babies are a recipe for insanity in close quarters, and there is no way to predict the onset or end of colic. A soundproofed room where somebody can walk the floor with the baby is needed. One room per baby is probably best.
4. For hygiene, may I suggest an Alaskan frontier alternative to diapers? For very young babies who just lie there, try growing sphagnum moss, which is antibacterial and absorbent. Keep the baby in a nest of dry moss. When she poops, pees, or spits up, wash her and change the moss. No spinning, weaving, or molding required. Our midwife actually knew somebody who did this, and her kids turned out fine. Older babies could have diapers stuffed with moss.
5. Stimulation. Baby toys don't have to be fancy, but babies need to see different things, hear new voices, touch new surfaces. They get bored, and they let everybody know about it. Just changing rooms often helps. Simple toys and mobiles could be made from scraps of this and that. Also, the walls should be painted or textured.
My first kid isn't toddling yet, but I can already foresee the need for someplace where Mars toddlers can run around and yell and throw things. At this age, one assistant caregiver for every 4 kids would probably be enough.
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