What should fathers know about the ABCs of safe sleep?

• Baby should sleep in the same room with their caregiver, but not in the same bed.
• Baby should sleep alone in a safe sleep environment – keep loose bedding, bumpers, and toys out of the crib as this can increase your baby’s risk of suffocation and entrapment.
• Baby should always sleep on their BACK.
• Provide a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards.

Why shouldn't fathers smoke around or near a baby?

• Smoking affects growth
• Smoking delays brain development
• Smoking impairs breathing before and after birth
• Smoking causes ear infections
• Smoking causes colds and coughs
• Smoking causes respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia  

How and why should fathers have skin-to-skin interaction with a baby?

• To initiate better bonding with their baby
• To empower the father to be feel less helpless and more as a primary caregiver
• Makes father feel less nervous about baby care
• Helps fathers learn their baby's cues for hunger or stress
• Helps fathers remain calm and able to deal with postpartum struggles better
• Helps make their baby feel more calm and able to sleep better
• Keeps baby warmer, regulates breathing and keeps blood sugar levels higher
• Helps baby to cry less
• Helps to detect even a one degree fluctuation in baby's body temperature and adjust accordingly to heat up or cool down the baby

What should fathers know about breastfeeding?

• Human milk boosts a baby's immune system
• Human milk contains substances which promote sleep and calmness
• Breastfed infants are at lower risk for sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs)
• Breastfeeding reduces a baby's risk of disease later in life
• Breastfeeding reduces the mother's risk of breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis
• Breastfeeding saves a family approximately $2,000-$4,000 annually
• Breastfeeding calms the mother and helps with bonding