The Dad Pad has valuable information to help dads understand their babies better, support their partners and care for themselves.
- Visit The Dad Pad
By responding to and comforting your baby when they are showing signs of being hungry or unsettled, you can help them feel safe, secure and loved. The love hormone oxytocin is then released, which can also help their brain cells grow, connect and develop.
As a new parent, you can respond and get to know your baby in lots of different ways including talking, singing, comforting, skin-to-skin cuddles, carrying your baby in a sling, taking baby for a walk, changing nappies and bathing.
The Love your Bump/Baby Padlet and the Love me, grow my brain campaign have lots of ideas about how to get to know your baby.
Click on the link or scan QR code to access Love your Bum/Baby Bag
Click on the link or scan QR code to access Love me, grow my brain videos
You have a very important role to play in supporting your partner so that they can rest can rest and feed the baby. You can prepare meals and snacks for both of you and take over the essential household jobs.
You may live far from relatives and you and your partner may have only you to help, so it is a good idea to have time off work after the birth if you can (find out about paternity leave).
If your baby is breastfed, you could bring the baby’s mum a snack and a drink while mum is breastfeeding; if baby is bottle-feeding, you could sterilise equipment, make up feeds and feed baby.