The Daddy & Family Magazine Winter 2014 Issue #1 | Page 28

had several months to become acquainted with the new life
inside her and, especially if she is breastfeeding, to have
more opportunities to bond with your baby. Some new
fathers can begin to feel excluded from the growing
relationship between their partner and their baby, so it’s
important to create your own opportunities for you to bond
with baby.
Dads of course are more than capable of looking after new
babies and bathing, dressing, holding, singing to your little
one, taking them for a walk and settling them for naps are
all ways of developing your bond with them. Having time
alone with your baby gives your partner a much needed
break and also gives you space to find your own fathering
feet. Your parenting may develop differently from your
partner’s, but it is no less important to your baby.
If your partner is being over-protective of the baby, it’s
probably due to new-mother nerves (lots of us have them!).
Gently reassure her (she needs your support now more than
ever) that you want to be involved and that will mean
making your own mistakes and discovering your own joys of
parenthood.

If your partner is being overprotective of the baby, it’s
probably due to new-mother
nerves (lots of us have them!).
Gently reassure her (she needs
your support now more than ever)
that you want to be involved and
that will mean making your own
mistakes and discovering your
own joys of parenthood.

ˮ

Babies NEED Their Dads- What
The Research Says
Thankfully there has been much research
conducted in the last few years about the
importance of dads bonding securely with
their children. Fathers interact with their
newborns in a different way than mothers
do and this double-interaction increases the
development of mirror neurons in their
baby’s brains, the very beginnings of their
capacity for warm and close relationships.
Dads reading to toddlers helps to develop their
vocabulary, their continued involvement increases
the likelihood of supportive peer relationships in
their child’s teens and lowers their risk of
depression into adulthood.

If you’re not as involved as you’d like to be or lack
confidence, you might find yourself feeling resentful or
jealous, negative towards the baby, not wanting to spend
time alone with them, making excuses not to be engaged in
your baby’s care or finding reasons to spend more time
away from the family or working harder to avoid going
home. These are natural feelings at times when we are
overwhelmed or unsure of our abilities (and common while
we are adjusting to our new life), but if they become
frequent orimportant for the two be you to have couple time
prolonged they could of signs of you not coping
and needing extra support. Apart from you losing out on
your relationship with the baby, this is also likely to cause
ongoing problems between you and your partner. Talk with
your partner if you can and also other fathers about this.
Often just being able to talk can help. Or it could be a first
step to getting more support.

Daughters who grow up feeling loved and
respected by their fathers are less likely to end up
with a teen pregnancy.
Being involved with their children of all ages
fosters a child’s self-esteem, and it works both
ways, dads who feel bonded to their children also
have higher self-esteem that those who don’t. And
it doesn’t end there.
Dads who are bonded to their children have
happier relationships with their partners. Bonding
is good for the whole family.