James Muchira, an assistant professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing said, from the beginning, fathers shape their children’s health in significant ways.
Dr. Michael Yogman, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School said, a father’s influence is unique, complementing but not being redundant with a mother’s role.
Fathers are more involved and are big influences on how their kids eat, exercise and play, even though child care is handled by mothers.
The way children pick up behaviors from their parents is complex, says Muchira. But overall, most of the risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, is not genetic. Many risks come from factors such as, what a child is eating, where they are growing, along with education and other socioeconomic factors.
When the body is sustaining the developing child, before birth, mothers-to be have a dominant influence., but if fathers get involved from the beginning, the outcome of the pregnancy will be much better, says Yogman
He said, that a father’s style of play with infants may differ from a mother. more tapping games and bicycling of the legs are done mostly by dads, and they ‘re likely to toss their babies in the air more.
Studies say that, fathers are engaged in more rough- and-tumble play, when children are 18 to 24 months old. This helps the children to develop better emotional control, become more independent and reduce behavioral problems.
When a father engages in healthy behaviors related to fitness, or staying away from the phone during dinner, the model can permeate through the family. For a good health a lot of these lifestyle issues are really critical, says Yogman.
Yogman says, childhood adversity and prolonged stress can lead to multiple health and psychological problems. But even one supportive, trusting relationship can go long way towards buffering against it.
Fathers should be aware that they too, can suffer from postpartum depression which will affect the whole family. They should attend in their child’s pediatric visits. Says Yogman.
Yogman said that, no one is perfect, all of us are guilty of all kinds of weaknesses and infractions. Guilt and impossible standards do not help anyone, but a father’s goal is to do the best that he can.
