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Breastfeeding Tips

How to get Dad involved?

By Melissa Kotlen Nagin, Registered Lactation Consultant

HoustonMom.com recently interviewed Registered Lactation Consultant, Melissa Kotlen Nagin, about tips for parents who want to breastfeed their babies. Melissa is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Registered Lactation Consultant (RLC). She is the About.com breastfeeding expert, a top parenting/baby site, and maintains an active blog on breastfeeding topics. Melissa maintains an active private practice, teaches prenatal breastfeeding classes at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, and has lectured on lactation topics at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Melissa is also the proud mother of three beautiful children.

Q: How can moms-to-be and new moms get dads involved in the breastfeeding process?

A: I know that when my mom went into labor with me, my dad was sent home and they only let him in the room after I was born. Things are much different now, most dads are in the delivery room and cutting umbilical cords— they're much more hands-on.

Here’s a few ways to get Dad involved!

1. Let Dad help choose the baby gear before the baby is born. This allows him to feel more of a part of the planning and decision making, plus it can be just as much fun for him.

2. Let him take on equal responsibility for changing diapers, bathing, soothing, and even feeding once baby arrives. This gives him a vote of confidence he needs to take an active part in parenting. Two thumbs up from mom!

3. Using a breast pump means that dads can now take part in feeding time, giving mom a much-deserved break. If you want Dad to take over a few feedings, I recommend waiting until 2 weeks postpartum to introduce a bottle and begin pumping (we want to make sure milk supply and proper latch-on is well-established beforehand). After those 2 weeks, moms can get into a nice routine of pumping and allowing dad to give the bottle.

These are great ways for dads to feel like part of the process!