EVERYTHING FOR DAD

Congratulations, you’re a new dad! Or is what will probably be the most important event in your life yet to come? Then do look forward to it! In our exclusive section for dads we provide you with useful information and tips so that you can finally put paid to the saying “It’s easy to become a father, but being one is much harder!”.

Even before the birth a mother and her child have an intimate relationship. There are plenty of men who feel at a disadvantage here. While fathers may need longer to build up a relationship with their child, the father-child relationship is nevertheless just as important. If dad takes time for his new arrival, the whole family will benefit – and ideally right from the start.

A dad’s way of treating their baby is different to mum’s. Each does things in their own way. She may be more nurturing but it’s more fun playing with him. Both are important for the child.

• The father will gain an insight into his child’s everyday routine, experience more of the childlike emotions and its progress.
• The child will also perceive the father as an important person it can relate to.
• The mother gets support, she no longer feels solely responsible for the baby. That’s good for the parent’s partnership.
• Dad becomes actively involved in the child’s upbringing.

A vital prerequisite for this is that the mother is also able to “let go” and allows the contact between father and child to happen. And even if dad doesn’t do things quite as perfectly as mum would have it, she should refrain from “words of advice” – and vice versa.

Especially when they’re working, dads should plan set times of day that they spend with their offspring and keep one afternoon a week or on the weekend especially for the child. Introduce little routines – children love that, as it reinforces their basic trust and gives them a sense of security.

Keeping little customs

• Especially once you start mixed feeding or if breastfeeding isn’t possible, dads can also feed their baby.
• You can put your child to bed in the evening, sing a lullaby or read a bedtime story.
• Help with babycare: this may be changing nappies, or giving your baby its bath or a relaxing massage.
• Take the baby for a walk or if your child is already somewhat older, you can go on an outing together.
• Be the one to take your little treasure to the (baby) exercise class.
• Spending play times together is also something really special for small children.