Fathers and infant caretaking

Abstract

This paper reports a study of father participation in a range of childcare tasks and play during the first three months after the birth of a first child. Information was obtained from 40 fathers interviewed in their own home.

It was found that father participation varied according to the task. All fathers were involved in play and walking their baby around, but bathing and changing were less popular. Fathers' reasons for not being involved are reported. Overall only two fathers were sharing childcare equally with their wives in the time that they were home and over half did little or nothing. Information is also reported on taking sole responsibility, taking baby out and who is better at childcare and play. The findings are discussed in relation to previous studies of father involvement in infant care and the implications of the results are discussed.