The result of a recent survey of new fathers conducted by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) showed that fathers could make a significant difference in how an infant is nursed and safely placed to sleep. 

This was the first study to use PRAMS for fathers to determine the rate of newborn nursing and sleep practices reported by fathers in a state-representative sample. The results of this survey were published in the journal Pediatrics. 

The survey showed that 95% of fathers who wanted their infant’s mother to breastfeed reported breastfeeding initiation, and 78% reported nursing at eight weeks. This number was much higher than the rates reported by fathers who had no opinion or did not want the mother to nurse. 

The researchers reported that 99% of the fathers placed their infants to sleep; however, only 16% implemented all three recommended sleep practices for infants. These practices include using the back sleep position, an approved sleep surface, and avoiding soft bedding. Nearly one-third of the fathers missed at least one key component of safe sleep education.

Additionally, it was observed that black fathers were more likely to use back sleep positions and soft bedding than white fathers. The researchers noted that the sudden unexpected infant death rate was two times higher in black infants than in white infants. They added that unsafe sleep practices could contribute to this disparity.

(Source:https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/16/health/fathers-infant-health-breastfeeding-wellness/index.html )