Fathers are Key Players in Breastfeeding and Safe Infant Sleep

by: AWHONN Editorial Staff

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It’s highly likely that the father of your baby spends more time engaged in childrearing activities than your father or grandfather did. This positive trend has tripled in the past 50 years and it’s related to better overall child health.

Dad’s support with baby improves beginning breastfeeding for moms, expands nursing up through eight weeks, and helps with safe infant sleep.

According to the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, moms consider their baby’s father’s opinion about breastfeeding.

A survey among 250 dads in Georgia found that fathers who wanted their infant’s mother to breastfeed indeed had higher rates of beginning and sustaining breastfeeding at 8 weeks when compared to their counterparts. These same fathers also reported placing their infants to sleep on their backs as advised by leading sleep experts, including the AAP, making dads great partners you can lean on during those first days and weeks of sleepless newborn care.

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AWHONN Editorial Staff