Dads
You’re a Great Dad!
Being a dad can be one of the most rewarding and impactful roles you take on. You are the guiding force in your child’s life. Let’s help you stay healthy to be there for your family!
How to support the people who love you and look up to you.
As a dad, it’s vital to protect your children. What makes a good dad? Many fathers say being a good one takes your body, mind, and soul. Striving to be the best, supportive dad can help you establish a healthy relationship with your child and significant other. Way to man up!
Looking for tips on how to be a good dad? We can help:
Talk to your doctor about your health, family health history, and any medicines you’re taking. Your family’s health history may show a risk for developing certain diseases in the future.
Put your child first. The thing kids want most from their dads is time. Take time to find out about your child’s day. Spend time caring for them! Our QT 30 program has ideas for ways to spend quality time with your child.
Children learn through example, so if they see their father participating in bad habits they are more likely to develop the same habits later in life. It’s important to take care of yourself — just as important as taking care of your baby. Teach kids good safety habits. Set a good example, like by using your seat belt.
Hugs from dad mean a lot! Playing games, as well as snuggling, hugging, and loving them, are some of the best things you can do for your child.
Reading to children can improve their brain development, creativity, and thinking skills. There is no age that is too young to start reading to a child — even when they are in utero! Delaware libraries
Show them you value them by spending time with them, talking and listening to them, praising things they do, and supporting them.
Teach your children signs of bullying and ways to find help and resources on how to properly deal with bullying.
From an early age, you can teach your child the value of money. Teaching kids how to save money is necessary. Financial protection is also essential: have life insurance, an emergency fund, and a will.
Taking care of yourself is important. Give yourself some alone time and time to connect with others such as your family and buddies.
How you treat your child’s mother affects kids’ self-esteem.
Be a cheerleader for your significant other and prioritize their needs.
How to support your child’s mother.
When you and your child’s mom are both on the same page, everybody wins. How you treat their mother affects kids’ self-esteem. Be a cheerleader for your significant other and prioritize their needs. This sets a good example for children and promotes a healthy relationship. Encourage your child’s mom to keep up with doctor visits. You can also help them recover and be aware of any health concerns they may have.
As a dad, you may feel left out if your partner breastfeeds your new baby. But you play an important role. Breastfeeding is recommended as the best nutrition for your baby. Besides the nutritional and natural immunity benefits breastfeeding offers, another benefit is it’s free! Breastfeeding can be challenging for many mothers. There are many organizations that can help if your partner is having trouble with breastfeeding.
Need help to support your partner breastfeeding?
Join them for a breastfeeding class . Learn the breastfeeding basics . At first, your baby eats about every two to three hours. In between those feedings, make sure you get some skin-to-skin togetherness, too. This can help you bond with baby. Offer encouragement and kind words. Tell your partner you’re proud of them. Pick up their favorite meal, and limit visitors so that they can rest and focus on breastfeeding.
See more breastfeeding tips on WIC
Don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself is the first step to helping you to live a longer life. Here are a few lifestyle topics to consider for improving your health.
Don’t smoke.
If you do smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. Visit Delaware Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
. Eat a healthy diet.
Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein, such as fish and chicken. Limit foods high in trans fats and added sugar or sodium, like fast food.
Get moving.
Exercise can help you lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also help improve your mood and be a great way to deal with stress. So aim to get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a day, for five days a week.
Limit alcohol.
If you choose to drink, do it in moderation. That means up to two drinks a day. Too much alcohol can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and possibly cancer.
Don’t misuse drugs.
Did you know some vitamins and drugs can’t be taken together or can cause harm? Do not stop taking medications before talking to your provider. If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Help is available
to you regardless of insurance, from specially trained substance use disorder providers you can trust. Manage stress.
Chronic stress can affect your overall health negatively, so finding ways to cope with stress is key to a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, meditation, engaging in a hobby and making time to talk through your issues are great ways to manage stress.
Visit your health care provider.
Get your annual health check-up. See your health care provider any time you are concerned or have symptoms you want checked out. Your health care provider can be your best ally for health education and disease prevention. Ask your provider about preventive care such as cancer screenings, vaccinations
, and other health evaluations. It’s also important to know your health history. Your family’s health history may reveal your risk for developing certain diseases in the future. Your provider can also help you get checked for STDs annually or when you have a new partner. Use condoms.
Children are a lot of work. If you don’t want more kids, use protection when you have sex. Need condoms? You can get them for free. Check out where you can find free condoms.
Taking care of your child
Everything’s different now that you’re a dad. Life is busier. To help you adjust to your new life, learn the right way to support your baby’s health and help support their mom. Feeding, safe sleep, well visits, and more — babies need a lot and so do their moms. It’s important that you both support each other during this time of great change.
You’re tired, and rightfully so! It may seem harmless to take a quick nap with your baby on your bed or on the couch … but it’s not! Sleeping with the baby puts them at risk of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID). This risk is even higher if you or your partner is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Remember, babies are safest when they sleep on their back in their own crib, without any pillows, blankets, bumper pads, or toys. If you need help finding a crib, you have help. Talk to your health care provider and ask them to refer you to the Cribs for Kids
For more information, check out our Safe Sleep program.
Well-child visits with your baby’s health care provider help to catch any problems early and keep your baby healthy. The provider checks on your baby’s growth and development and lets you know what they should be able to do based on age (like roll over, sit up, crawl, etc.). The provider offers you immunizations to keep your baby from getting sick. See your baby’s provider at one month, two months, four months, six months, nine months, one year, 15 months, and 18 months. Need help with getting health insurance for your child? Call 2-1-1 for the Help Me Grow program.
You can protect your baby against many diseases by having them vaccinated. Vaccinations are also called immunizations or baby shots. These start at birth. Protect your baby by getting all the recommended vaccines on time. Want more info on when to get your child vaccinated? Check out the vaccination schedule from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.
Vaccines aren’t just for kids! Any adults around the baby should also make sure they are up to date on vaccines. You might not realize it, but getting immunized is a lifelong commitment
Visit our Smile Check page to learn about the services they offer for your child in person and online, and services that are available for the entire family as well.
Really — all babies cry, and sometimes you may feel like joining in. When a baby who is otherwise healthy cries for more than three hours per day, more than three days per week for at least three weeks, it is a condition defined as colic. Colic usually goes away on its own, but you can always ask your baby’s health care provider.
Caring for a colicky baby can be extremely frustrating, so be sure to take care of yourself, too. If you need a time-out, take one. It’s okay to put the baby down in the crib and take time to relax. If at any time you feel like you might hurt yourself or the baby, put the baby down in the crib and call for help immediately.
It is better to call your baby’s provider to be safe if something does not feel right, especially during the first year after your baby is born! You know your baby best.
Tracking your baby’s growth and helping them develop through play is something that can help your baby reach their full potential. What should you expect as your child grows? Visit our Child Development page to learn how to understand your child’s changing body.
The Nemours website
Some children may have special needs. If your child has special needs, visit our Family SHADE program page. It can connect you with community resources as well as other families that have similar needs and experiences.
Need more tips on taking care of your little one?
Visit our Your Growing Child page for more tips and tricks for parenting. You can also reach out to Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs serve as a connection between health/social services and the community to simplify access to services and improve service delivery. CHWs aim to build individual and community capacity to improve health outcomes through a variety of activities such as outreach, health education, informal counseling, social support, linkages and referrals to health care, as well as community resources such as financial coaching or housing.
Need Assistance?
If you’re like most dads, you sometimes wonder if your child’s early development is on track. You don’t have to wonder anymore. Help Me Grow at Delaware 2-1-1 is a free one-stop call center to answer your questions or get the help you need for your child. You may also text your ZIP code to 898211.
Breaking Down Barriers
Now is the time for everyone to make the choices to stay healthy, but not everyone has the same opportunity to do that.
