A lot of dads
don’t know a much about their new born children, some may even be afraid of
their baby. They think they might hurt the child; I have even meet dads who
will not even touch their new babies what I tell mums is leave the child with
the dad have a break and go out for a
few hours this normally works as they
have to do something and get involved . Why this has happened is down to the
way men have been trained to think. It wasn’t always like this otherwise we
wouldn’t be here men use to be able to look after babies fine and still can. Here
are a few things that will help
If
your baby is born full term, carrying her in skin to skin
contact on your chest at birth will help her stabilize. It will be a
wonderful bonding time for both of you. Babies need their dads and you can do
most things in caring for your baby: You can hold her, change her nappy, carry
her, talk and sing just as well as mum. There is only one thing you cannot do,
breastfeed! One thing mother’s skin-to-skin contact does better than father’s
is temperature control! Dads tend to overheat babies, but your baby will stick
out an arm to cool herself down so don’t worry about it they are going to be
fine
You can be a wonderful support
to mum, encouraging her in breastfeeding this will help baby and mother breastfeeding can be difficult at first if
she is having problems then you can find a trainers talk to your mid wife.
Breastfeeding your baby offers lots of benefits. Here are just a few:
- It may reduce your baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- It helps your baby to fight infection and develop good bacteria in her digestive system. She gets all the nutrition she needs from your milk to grow well, while also being protected from harmful bacteria.
- Breast milk contains antibodies from you that help to protect your baby against tummy bugs (gastroenteritis), colds, chest infections and ear infections.
- It helps you to feel close to one another.
- It prepares your baby for different tastes. Unlike formula milk, the flavour of breast milk can change according to what you've eaten, so your baby may be less of a fussy eater when she's weaning.
- It can be a great comfort to your older baby when she's too ill to eat, but still able to feed. Breast milk can also help your baby to recover from illness more quickly. Once your baby starts solids at around six months, you can carry on breastfeeding her.
Take the night shift: Night shifts aren’t just for mummy; this is a great time for dad to bond with baby as well. In the stillness of the night, this is the perfect time for you to hold your baby close and let them know just how much you love them. Not only will you start to develop a bond with your baby, you’ll also get brownie points from your wife who will be able to catch up on a little extra sleep.
Soothe baby: It’s important to let baby know that mum isn’t the only one who can give them what they need. Instead of handing baby over as soon as they start to cry, take the time to try to soothe baby by you only. Holding baby close with rocking motions can usually do the trick. This lets baby know that you can comfort him/her, as well as mum.
Be silly with baby: Babies love silly faces and silly sounds. Silly faces usually lead to smiles and, if you’re lucky, even a laugh from baby. They also love silly noises too. Being silly is a great way to bond with your little one.
Walks with baby: It’s important to take your little one into the great outdoors. This doesn’t have to be some amazing location; even a walk around the block is good enough! Your baby will enjoy taking in all the new sights and sounds that the great outdoors has to offer. Make sure your baby can see you while you’re out a great way is to wear your baby in a rap. The good thing about it is you have a great time and do some good bonding
Be a part of the bedtime routine. If you’re a dad who works all day and gets home at night, this is a really important time to bond with your baby, especially if you haven’t been able to spend time with your baby during the day
A shitty time: It might not sound like the best way to bond, but baby needs to be changed many times a day, so make the most of it. This is a time when you can talk to baby, tickle baby’s toes, and make baby feel more comfortable around you. You will get use to it we all do it anyway so grow appear and just do it
Sing/read to baby: The sound of your voice is so soothing to your baby. The more your baby hears your voice, the more he/she will recognize your voice and find comfort in it. Holding your baby close while you sing or read helps the bonding experience.
All these things will help you with your child to be happy and you will soon be a number one dad and be thinking what was I so scared of
