Parenting roles in the society –
If Moms seem to know what’s best for their baby, Dads are a bit neglected in this field.
Many fall comfortably into the traditional way of thinking where the father is the main one responsible for the financial support of the family; therefore he will keep doing that even after the baby is born. Moreover, many traditional families focus on the maternal and feminine influence on a baby during the first years of its life, diminishing the paternal role as if the father was just an observer to the creation process.
Fortunately, in many parts of the world where gender equality is on the current agenda, there are more and more modern families out there who acknowledge the important part of the father in raising a baby including during the first days and months and years of its life.
However, in order to do that, meaning actually to be able to do their role of a fresh new father, Mom needs to make room for Dad to act on it freely.
How can Mom support Dad in raising a baby
So, here there are some suggestions for Moms to support Dads taking care of their babies:
- Trust your partner and allow him to get involved in taking care of your baby. Even if a mom’s instinct is a reliable inborn feature, Dads have also some trustworthy antennas when it comes to fatherhood. They just need to be given the chance to prove it;
- Don’t be a martyr, communicate with your partner, tell him about your needs, moods, expectations and worries and share your knowledge about babies with him, including details about diaper change, feeding schedule, preparing the bottle, comforting methods and so on;
- Be a team player with your partner in this beautiful parenting journey, think of baby steps together;
- Let Dad get involved early in feeding the baby (in case of formula or expressed milk), bathing the baby together, holding the baby to burp or taking him outside for a walk/nap and let them build their special bond too;
- Be supportive, patient and encourage Dad to do things on his own with your baby. You will soon appreciate his baby-comforting skills and you will both sleep better;
- Don’t jump too soon to rescue your baby when he/she cries, be it in your partner’s arms or in the crib. Pause a bit and listen to his/her crying; sometimes they are just sleep sounds and hunger is not always the reason a baby cries. If your baby is just fussing and trying to settle to sleep, wait a bit and let Dad intervene if necessary;
- Talk openly about sex (or the lack of it 😉 during these sensitive times. Explain him your maternal hormones have taken over your sexual drive so that he does not get too neglected or frustrated for that matter;
- Understand your partner, his feelings and needs and try to find a middle ground to show him your appreciation for his important role in your lives.
Remember, parenthood is an equal partnership and Dads should not be deprived from connecting with their babies even from an early age. It’s a win-win situation for all of you, including your baby.
If you need more support in setting healthy sleep habits for your baby and get some restorative sleep for the family, feel free to book a free call.