Bonding with your baby isn’t just a ‘mum’ thing.
Research has found that the more fathers interact with their baby right from the start, the happier they will feel, the more they will want to play – and the better their relationship with their child will be.
The Families Support team at South Eastern Community Connect understands this, and holds free Dads and Bubs Bonding sessions regularly.
South Eastern Community Connect’s next course will start on Saturday 17th November and run over three consecutive weeks at Gardeners Road Public School from 9am to 11am.
The free Dads and Bubs Bonding Workshop will cover the practicalities of feeding, settling, sleeping, infant communication, baby massage and infant play.
Dads, grand-dads and male carers will gain a basic understanding of infant development, as well as exploring what it means to be a father.
South Eastern Community Connect’s Family & Children’s Services Team Leader Bronwynn Jursik, who hosts the sessions, says few people ask fathers how the birth experience was for them – or how they’re feeling about their new role.
“There are so many things new dads have to get their heads around – including a whole new set of skills, and a big adjustment in their relationship with their partner,” she says.
“We offer qualified advice on parenting and teach parents techniques in baby massage with the help of an expert from Creating Balance Australia. We also share tips for dealing with such things as reflux, and how to bond with bub at different ages and stages.”
The course is designed for all dads, grand-dads and male carers with babies aged 0-12 months old. Mums and other carers are welcome too.
For more information on the Dads and Bubs Bonding Sessions, or any of our other family services, call Bronwynn Jursik on 02 8338 8506 or email familysupport@secc.sydney.
Did you know?
- Australian fathers who spend more time on child care are the most satisfied with their relationships with their children (Australian Institute of Family Studies)
- When fathers are more satisfied with the relationship they have with their partner, they are more satisfied with the bonds they have with their kids (Australian Institute of Family Studies)
- Father involvement influences child development separately from that of mothers, particularly through different communication styles (Lamb 2015: 8)
- As a result of father absence, social-emotional development is negatively affected, heightening the chance of risk-taking behaviours in adolescence (McLanahan, Tach & Schneider, 2013).