Society tends to focus on mom and baby when a child is born, but it’s also important to recognize and acknowledge the deep importance of fathers and what they can contribute to the development and growth of a new baby.
Making sure that baby has access to daddy when possible is necessary. Dads need accessibility to their babies, they need to be able to engage with their new baby, they need to be able to relate to baby and take on the responsibility of having a child. Allowing dad to find his confidence in caring for the baby will not only encourage a bond between the two of them, it will also allow you time to learn to trust him to be involved, give you space and time to care for yourself and will play a role in developing a healthy alliance between you as parents.
Let’s take a look at why it is important to build dad up and involve him in the baby’s life as much as possible. There are so many benefits to a father being hands on and being involved in all the daily duties of taking care of a newborn as well as being part of the structure and routine that you form for the baby. Listed below are just a handful of reasons why dads are important:
Healthier early development for baby
- Premature babies develop better and gain weight quicker
- Breastfeeding is improved
- Improved cognitive skills
Fulfill needs specific to both boys and girls and create gender specific bonds
- Reduced behavioral issues
- Promote better exploratory behavior and play
- Deeper language competency
Create a bond that can grow as the child grows and provides a healthy establishment of other relationships
- Future interactions are easier and stronger
- Sets an example for creating other bonds for baby
- Can allow the relationship between mom and dad to be healthy
- Teaches the child to make wiser decisions in other relationships
- More likely to abstain from sex until marriage
- Sets a standard for baby to value healthy relationships
- Less likely to become a teen parent
Build confidence in a child who will become more socially secure
- Less likely to be aggressive in other relationships
- Less likely to engage in risky behavior
- Create friendships and be more supportive to others around them
Create a foundation for baby who will deal with stress better
- Less likely to struggle with anxiety and/or depression
- Develop more peaceful surroundings and communities overall
- Less behavioral and emotional struggles
Once you realize the need to involve the baby's dad in their life, you will need to allow them to find what works for them in developing the relationship. That said, you can also help in creating special ways for them to be involved in the baby’s care and in the connection.
- Let them be involved and encourage a bond from the beginning
- Let dad take charge and decide how they want to create special memories
- Be involved in teaching him how to do the things needed for new baby if he feels insecure: diaper changes, feedings, swaddling, burping, tummy time, play, etc.
- Suggest fun things for him to do with his child: park visits, walks, play dates, etc.
- Make sure dad knows that he can be in charge of certain tasks and give him routine assignments that he is in charge of
- Trust him and make sure he knows that you trust him
- Don’t make him feel inferior to you as a parent; build him up even when he struggles or makes mistakes
There are so many benefits to including your newborn’s dad in their life and to give them the freedom and confidence to develop a unique and personal relationship with them from the beginning. It is ideal, when possible, for a baby to have both parents to help them develop and grow. While we recognize that this is not always an option, if you can come together as parents and work through issues between the two of you to create a healthy and well rounded environment for your child, your child will be better for it.
If you need help in working through issues with your baby’s father or need to find more ways to create a relationship and involve dad in your child’s life please contact the PLC Health Clinic staff at 419-238-9177 or www.plchealthclinic.org and let us walk alongside you to make this happen.
*References available upon request
