Involvement and benefits of breastfeeding for dad
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female breasts (known as lactation) rather than using infant formula.
Many fathers fear that they won’t be able to bond with the breastfed baby without feeding bottles. This is very far from the truth. Bonding occurs through a physically, loving relationship. Bringing the baby to the mother to breastfeed, singing a song, burping baby after baby has breastfed or putting baby to sleep is a great way to demonstrate to the baby that the father can, in fact, meet his baby’s needs.
As a new or prospective father, you are probably somewhat familiar with the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby, but did you ever stop to think about what is in it for you? Let’s see how Dads benefit when a Mom chooses to breastfeed their child.
· Cost Savings
This is a big one for a lot of dads! Whether you are the sole income provider or not, adding a new member to the family can often be a source of worry. It may help to know that that one year of breastfeeding can save over $1,000 vs the cost of artificial infant food. That’s just for bottles and formula, and doesn’t include the extra Doctor visits and prescriptions that happen when baby is formula fed.
· More Sleep
Let’s face it. You don’t have the equipment to handle the job of night feedings. While some Moms choose to pump and let Dad offer a bottle at night, for many Moms, snuggling up with baby at night to nurse is the norm. In a lot of families, this means Dad can head off to work with a full night’s rest.
· The father of a breastfed baby will reap the benefits of a healthier partner and healthier infant. Traditionally, fathers view themselves as providers and protectors of their families. Naturally, a father wants to assure the welfare of his partner and his baby. His support, encouragement, and direct help can be the decisive factor in a woman's breastfeeding success. When his infant is breastfed, a father experiences pride and confidence, knowing he has contributed to the healthiest outcome for his baby and his partner.