5. Babies Thrive on the Difference Dad Brings

Dads bring a unique set of strengths to raising kids and are the best brain development toys possible. Don’t turn dad into an assistant mom; encourage him to do it his way. Your baby will thrive on the difference.

Children Need Their Dads

Children of involved fathers manage stress better during their school years and enjoy improved physical well being, perceptual abilities, positive relationships, self-control and the ability to take the initiative. A close, warm relationship with our daughters strengthens their feelings of competence and a sense of femininity. A father’s love and care are the major factors in combating a child’s problems with conduct, delinquency or substance abuse. Very serious stuff, and just what dads are for.

Dads Are For Playing

Your baby’s main job is to learn by playing and exploring, and she often picks dad for the task. It starts right after birth when your little bundle of joy notices that he looks, smells and sounds different than you. She won’t know what to think of him right off, which is why she stares at him. As the weeks go by, your baby will learn that you are protective and calming, while dad is more playful, physical, and often surprising. You will pick her up when she is fussy, and dad will more likely tickle her or lift her into the air. When she hears her father’s voice, she’s likely to raise her shoulders and eyebrows, or begin kicking her legs, in an invitation to have fun.

Her father, perhaps due in part to maturity issues, is naturally designed to be her perfect playmate. Tickling, flight lessons, peek-a-boo and wrestling all come naturally.  Playing is also bonding at its finest. Dads elicit radiant smiles and infectious belly laughs, sometimes with just a wink. And finally, playing teaches her how to laugh and take risks, develops her motor skills and speeds the development of her brain and nervous system. It’s a dirty job, crawling on the floor, barking like a dog chasing her around, and its dad’s job.

Who knew those forts made out of sofa cushions had a higher purpose.  What does your partner bring to the table as a dad?

What you can do
What you can do

    Develop Complementary Roles for Raising Your Child

    You will quickly develop an intense, nurturing, protective role as a new mom and contribute immensely to your child’s welfare and growth. Dad’s adventurous role complements your protective mode, and the combination is what turns out well rounded children. Dads introduce new challenges to their babies and encourage them to explore their worlds.

    Just playtime with dad contributes to your baby’s physical, intellectual, and social development, and leads to great qualities later in life: good relationships with peers, a knowledge of limits, a spirit of adventure. The more you acknowledge each other’s strengths, the more you will bring out the best in each other as parents. Remember that an involved dad takes nothing away from your mothering, but in fact adds to the richness of your baby’s upbringing.

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10 Things Moms-to-Be Should Know
About New Dads

Moms, check out this Top Ten list and let us know what you think. Share your experience about supporting a new dad, including what you did that worked and what you did that didn’t.

A mom-to-be has a huge array of support and information, including her mate, friends, family, the healthcare system, and entire media and retail sectors. A dad-to-be has you. … Read More

Mothers are the most important factor in a father’s involvement with his baby. You can facilitate it or hinder it, especially in the months surrounding the birth when a new dad’s motivation is strongest. ... Read More

If you back off on doing everything with the baby and expect him to do his part, he will. Encourage him to get out of the house with his baby on his own, giving them time to develop their very special relationship. ... Read More

Men thrive on respect, confidence and love, and all are in short supply as we become fathers. Focus on respect for what he does right. It will build his confidence and show you love him. ... Read More

Dads bring a unique set of strengths to raising kids and are the best brain development toys possible. Don’t turn dad into an assistant mom, encourage him to do it his way. Your baby will thrive on the difference. ... Read More

Having our babies get excited when they see us, and knowing we are there for them when they need us, feeds our souls as men. With experience, our confidence builds, our instincts kick in, and we start feeling like real dads. It just takes longer than with moms. ... Read More

It’s not about sex, it’s about love. New moms naturally and dramatically shift their attention, intimacy and love from dad to their baby. If mom is not happy with dad, your relationship can suffer dramatically. Even if you don’t feel like sex, he still needs to feel the love. ... Read More

OK, it is partly about sex, but if vacuuming alone resulted in more sex, we would be buying 500 horse power Dyson vacuums and supercharging them. Once life settles down with your new baby, focus on your relationship, and the sex will handle itself. ... Read More

The more he brings his child into his life, the more balance you get in your life. When mom gets more balance, dad gets more of mom, and balance in his life too. Everybody lives more happily ever after. ... Read More

Soon after you become pregnant, help him get a good start, because you soon will be overwhelmed with your own needs. Show him respect as a father-to-be with something that helps him along his path. ... Read More

Articles

Dad’s Protective Instincts Come from Caveman Roots

From Greg Bishop, Founder, Boot Camp for New Dads

As Cavemen, we dads developed a strong protective instinct (Saber-toothed cats were a real problem), as well as a nurturing instinct. We were hands-on with our babies 24/7 in our little caves (talk about co-sleeping), except when out after an extra big mammoth because we had another mouth to feed. And when we got back, no doubt the… Read On

More about dads and babies:
  • Imagine Having A Father Like This For Your Baby
  • Pro-Active Pays Off
  • What Caring for Children Brings to Men
  • What Men Bring To Caring For Children