The Father's Role in Parenting: Growing Together, Making a Big Impact
Quite a few new fathers feel confused after their little one is born. While Mom spends more time breastfeeding and caring for the baby, Dad often finds himself wondering, "What can I actually do?" As a result, many fathers end up only as bystanders, rather than being truly involved in parenting.
In reality, a father's role is no less important. Dad's presence, attention, and involvement from day one can help build a strong emotional bond while also supporting the little one's growth and development.
The good news is that bonding does not have to start with something big. Simple moments, such as taking turns caring for the baby or accompanying feeding time, can already make a meaningful difference.
Why Is the Father's Role in Parenting So Important?
The little one needs emotional closeness not only with Mom, but also with Dad. A consistent presence helps create a sense of security for the baby from their very first days in the world, while also supporting the child's social and emotional development later on.
A cohort study in Poland published in the National Library of Medicine (NCBI) found that the quality of a father's involvement from the early period after birth plays an important role in a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development, and that its effects can last for years afterward.
Why does a father's role matter for a baby? His presence helps the baby feel safe while also supporting social and emotional development from an early age.
Is bonding between father and baby important from the newborn stage? Yes, bonding formed early on has a long term impact on the closeness of the whole family.
The Benefits of Father and Baby Bonding from the Newborn Stage
Bonding formed early between Dad and the baby brings many benefits, both for the little one and for the family as a whole.
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Helps the baby feel safer: the little one begins to recognize Dad's voice and touch even while still in the womb, so once born, this familiar voice helps calm them down.
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Supports the child's emotional development: children who receive healthy attachment from both parents tend to grow up with more stable emotional regulation.
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Reduces the mother's mental load: when Dad gets involved, Mom gains more room to rest and recover.
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Helps Dad feel more confident caring for the baby: the more often he is involved, the better Dad understands the little one's needs.
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Builds a closer family relationship: parenting turns into teamwork, rather than the responsibility of just one side.
Why Do Many Fathers Find It Hard to Get Involved Early in Parenting?
Even when the desire is there, many fathers feel awkward about starting to get involved. Some common reasons include being afraid of holding or feeding the baby incorrectly, assuming the baby needs Mom more, especially during breastfeeding, limited time due to work routines, and not knowing where to start with bonding.
These feelings are actually normal and experienced by almost all new fathers. Dad also needs space to learn how to be a parent, just as Mom is also learning from scratch.
Simple Activities That Can Help Dad Bond with the Baby
Source: Pexels by Gustavo Fring
Bonding does not have to start with something big. In fact, small daily routines are the most effective way to build closeness.
Skin to skin contact can be a good starting point. An experimental study published in Nature Scientific Reports showed that direct skin contact between a father and newborn baby can strengthen bonding while also helping the baby feel calmer.
In addition, Dad can talk to the baby so they begin to recognize his voice, help put the baby to sleep to build a sense of comfort, take part in feeding routines as a daily bonding moment, and even carry the baby during a relaxed walk to provide stimulation along with a sense of security.
Read also: The Role of Fathers in Modern Families: Being Present in the Small Moments That Build Lasting Bonds
Shared Feeding, a Modern Way for Dad to Get Involved in Baby Care
Feeding is not just about giving milk, but also a moment for building emotional closeness between Dad and the little one.
Dad Can Help Give Expressed Breast Milk
By giving expressed breast milk, Dad helps Mom get the rest she badly needs, especially at night.
The Baby Learns to Feel Comfortable with Dad's Presence
Feeding time becomes a consistent daily bonding moment, making the little one increasingly familiar and comfortable with Dad's presence.
Shared Feeding Helps Make Parenting More Balanced
When Dad and Mom are both involved in feeding, the burden of parenting feels lighter.
An article from AWHONN, an organization for women's health, obstetric, and neonatal nurses in the United States, also noted that successful bonding formed between father and baby during the early postpartum period contributes to the success of breastfeeding.
How can a father bond with the baby? One way is through active involvement in shared feeding every day.
Can a father help with feeding a newborn? Of course, especially through giving expressed breast milk using a bottle that is easy to use.
Hegen's Modern Feeding Solution to Support Family Bonding
Source: Hegen
When Dad starts getting involved in shared feeding, the feeding tools being used also affect how comfortable this process feels.
An Ergonomic Bottle That Is Easy for Dad to Use
The Soft Square or Sqround bottle design from Hegen is comfortable to hold and practical to use, even for a dad who is trying to feed the little one for the very first time.
Supporting Shared Feeding in the Modern Family
The ESF, or Express Store Feed, concept allows breast milk to be pumped, stored, and fed directly from the same container, so Dad can immediately take over the feeding process without needing to transfer the breast milk into another container.
Helping Feeding Time Become a Bonding Moment
With a practical bottle, Dad can focus more on eye contact and interaction with the little one, rather than on technical hassle.
A Practical Design for Everyday Parenting Routines
PPSU, or Polyphenylsulfone, material that withstands temperatures from -20°C to 180°C makes Hegen bottles easy to sterilize and use interchangeably by both Dad and Mom.
BUY the Hegen PCTO™ 150ml/5oz Breast Milk Storage PPSU (4 pack) HERE
Mistakes That Often Make It Hard for Dad to Bond with the Baby
Certain habits can actually delay bonding, such as waiting until the baby is older to start getting close, assuming feeding is only the mother's job, being too afraid of doing it wrong to even try, or being too focused on work without setting aside quality time. The longer bonding is delayed, the greater the effort needed to rebuild it later.
How to Build a More Collaborative Parenting Routine
A collaborative routine can start by splitting the feeding schedule, taking turns soothing the baby at night, keeping honest communication open between partners, and supporting each other without placing blame. A routine like this makes the father's role in parenting feel more real and consistent, rather than just occasional help.
The Positive Impact of a Father's Presence on a Child's Growth and Development
Children who grow up with a consistent father's presence tend to be more confident, have more stable emotional development, find it easier to socialize, and grow up within a warmer family relationship. All of this stems from one simple thing, which is the consistency of Dad's presence from an early age.
A Child Grows Best with Both Dad and Mom
Dad's presence in parenting is not just a form of help for Mom, but an important part of the little one's emotional growth and development from an early age. Simple moments such as carrying, soothing, and feeding together can create strong bonding within the family.
Support from a practical feeding system, such as Hegen's PPSU bottles, helps Dad feel more confident about being involved in the little one's daily routine. So invite the dad at home to start building closeness starting today, because the father's role in parenting is a long term investment for a warmer family.
Mom and Dad can find the full collection of original Hegen Indonesia products on the official website. So let's make every feeding moment a family bonding moment!
Reference
1. Sowa, P., et al. Paternal Postpartum Bonding and Its Predictors in the Early Postpartum Period: Cross-Sectional Study. National Library of Medicine (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8062924/
2. Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). A Father's Bond with His Newborn Is Just as Important as a Mother's Bond. https://www.awhonn.org/fathers-day-a-fathers-bond-with-his-newborn-is-just-as-important-as-a-mothers-bond/
3. Effect of skin to skin contact on father infant bonding: a randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports (Nature). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-24589-1
