Skin to Skin Contact for Fathers and Their Babies: Bonding with Your Infant
Promoting skin to skin practice between dads and their infants is a strategy that ICADV uses to invite men into nurturing caregiving relationships with their children. With this simple behavior that doesn't require extensive funding or training, we can catalyze a progression of positive outcomes with benefits for babies, dads and parenting couples.
Evidence shows that practicing skin to skin contact can help fathers to feel better bonded with their children and more prepared to participate in caregiving responsibilities, which can in turn promote equality in the home, reduce maternal stress, and provide a lived alternative to harmful masculinity norms. Through their skin to skin campaign, ICADV has partnered with a range of healthcare providers, home visitation programs, birthing classes, and the WIC program to promote skin to skin practice in Indiana and to develop promotional posters and brochures about the value of skin to skin.
Promotional materials can be ordered from ICADV's website. Available in English and Spanish.
