Dads and Breastfeeding

You may have heard that Dads can be helpful to their partners by feeding their babies breast milk from a bottle, however this could interfere with successful breastfeeding. Below are some other ways that you can help and also bond with your breastfed baby.

Dads have an important role to play in the healthy development of their children, and this includes supporting both mom and baby with breastfeeding.

In the first few weeks, lack of sleep and challenges with learning to breastfeed can affect mom’s confidence.

How’s a Dad to Help?

• Support mom in deciding to breastfeeding & encourage her to continue.
• Help mom with positioning baby– offer her a pillow to use while nursing.
• Spend time with your baby. Getting to know him/her helps you tune in to baby’s needs. 
• Burp your baby after a feeding or change baby’s diaper. By providing day to day care for your baby you will develop a special closeness with your baby too. 
• Care for baby while mom naps 
• Be involved with household chores like cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping 
• Babies that breastfeed frequently still benefit from being held. Let your baby lie skin to skin on your chest. 
• Be realistic about what you expect – a baby in the house is an adjustment for the whole family.
• Get more information - Just For Dad: Baby’s First Year is an online manual developed especially for dads. 
• Help mom find breastfeeding supports.

For more information, call (705) 721-7520 or click Your Health Connection and speak with a public health nurse.

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