Fathers

Fathers are important to babies too!

Today more and more fathers are taking an active role in raising their children. As a father, you have an important role to play in taking care of your baby. Your baby needs you. Sharing the responsibilities of
the care allows you to develop a closer bond with your baby, making him/her feel safe and happy.

You may feel nervous around a newborn. Or you may be afraid to touch your baby because you have never done it before and they appear to be so fragile. The best way to get over these feelings is to take some time to hold your baby. You will find that the more you do, the more comfortable you will feel.

Fatherhood brings huge responsibilities and can take a while to adjust to, you are also going through a huge emotional change. Couples can often find that the demands of their new baby puts strains upon their own relationship. Where as you had both the time and energy to talk before the baby, now, tiredness and extra pressures can make you feel too tired to think, let alone talk.

Don’t despair, life will calm down again! As your baby settles, you will find time for each other again (honest!).

Take time to get actively involved in changing nappies, bathing, bedtime and going walking and cuddling.
Remember, the more time you spend caring for the baby, the more confident you will feel as a parent.

Your partner may have times when she feels low and miserable and may even suffer from postnatal depression. Fathers have a really important role in supporting a partner who feels like this. It may be difficult and frustrating to live with someone who has postnatal depression. Encourage your partner to seek help and support her to get it. Reassure her that she is not going mad and that she will get better. Make sure she knows that you will support her and not abandon her.

Postnatal depression can affect new fathers too!

The pressures of fatherhood, increased responsibility, the expense of having children, the change in lifestyle, the changed relationship with their partners, as well as lack of sleep and increased work load at home can leave fathers feeling depressed too.

Talk about it together and talk to others
- don’t feel ashamed, you are not alone.

 

• Home Page • Baby Clinics • Baby & Toddler Groups • Day Nurseries
  & Pre-schools • Children's Activities • Library Rhyme Times • Days Out • What's On • Childrens' Parties • Parties at Home • Shopping • For Sale or Wanted • Financial Entitlements • Support for Parents • Useful Numbers • The Blossom Campaign • Advertising • The Team • Contact Us • Disclaimer • Search