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AAP encourages pediatricians to engage fathers, supports paid paternal leave
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The AAP recently released a clinical report that recommended that pediatricians actively engage fathers and emphasize the health and well-being benefits that fathers can have on their children’s development. The report also endorsed paid paternal leave for mothers and fathers.
“Fathers really have a quite impressive impact on their children’s health, including how well they do in school, how well they get along with friends, and whether children run into problems like substance abuse or delinquency,” Michael W. Yogman, MD, chairman of the AAP’s Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, said in a press release. “Pediatricians can encourage fathers to get involved; one way is to write a prescription for dad with doctor’s orders: ‘Play with your baby every day.’ ”
According to the report, in 2014, about 17% of all single parents were men, and 3.4% of all stay-at-home parents are fathers, including 32% who are married to full-time working women. Further, the report stated that 10% of the 378,000 gay male couples in the United States are raising children.
Yogman, co-author Craig F. Garfield, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, and committee colleagues also reported that two major socioeconomic factors have significantly increased the number of stay-at-home fathers, the great recession of 2008 and growth in women’s educational achievement.
The clinical report recommends that pediatricians attempt to communicate with fathers about their child’s health, instead of solely relying on mothers for these conversations. Pediatricians are encouraged to start conversations with fathers at birth.
The authors also encouraged pediatricians to emphasize the positive effects fathers can have on their children’s development. According to the report, the slightly rougher play between fathers and children can challenge them to explore and take safe risks. The authors also said fathers are more likely to use unique words while talking with children, which can stimulate language development. Furthermore, children with involved fathers are less likely to experience depression and engage in high-risk behaviors during adolescence.
Yogman and Garfield called for pediatricians to advocate for better paternity leave policies. According to the press release, the AAP supports paid paternity leave for both mothers and fathers.
“Despite the pressures at work and from society, encouraging fathers to become involved early on with their children can make a big difference in their comfort level and confidence in caring for their children as they grow,” Garfield said in the release.
The report also recommends that pediatricians screen fathers for perinatal depression, stress the importance of adult vaccine compliance and educate fathers about the practicalities of breast-feeding in order to support mothers during nursing.
“Fathers today are more involved with their children than ever before, and they want to know from the pediatrician how their child is developing,” Garfield said. “They want to be included and made welcome in the doctor’s office. Especially with more women entering the workforce, more fathers are stepping in to provide care, and they want to know from the doctor what is best for their children.” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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