From conception to pregnancy to being the provider of sole nutrition for baby for the first few months – name it, and you as the mommy most probably has done it. But to wean from breastfeeding should not be just solely your responsibility. You can include other people in the family too, specifically your partner.
Your baby’s dad can go from mere observer to super-dad with some power tips to help him get started:
- Dad can help by bottle-feeding baby. Sometimes, the baby will only take milk in its purest form, via breastfeeding. When you try to offer a bottle, most of the time, you will get rejected. If he won’t take it from you, then he may take it from someone else he is also familiar with – that’s usually Daddy. Their bottle-feeding sessions will somewhat mimic the feeling you have when you breastfeed, intensifying their closeness and bonding time.
- Speaking of bonding time, try to ask Daddy to spend a little quality time with baby. While mother-baby bonding is way different from father-baby time, it will still almost be the same as they take the time to play, walk or read together. Trust me, your partner will be up on his feet in no time and will always be glad to be of help when it comes to the baby.
- Talk to your partner about sharing some of the chores for a couple of months or at least until you both get settled with the baby. Explain to him that breastfeeding is hard work, but so is weaning. Once you get to the wean part though, and when you stop lactating, it will be much easier, and things may go back to being normal again in a couple of months.
Some men don’t show initiative when it comes to helping around the baby. Others attribute it to them being insensitive or insecure. Though you may not know it, but deep inside them lie a profound desire to get close to the baby, even if it’s just playtime or nap time and they’re just too shy to admit it. Asking your partner to help you in taking care of the baby will sprout in him a willingness to do so, maybe even more.
