87. Fathers, Feeding, and Safe Sleep – Journal Club

This week, we are doing another Journal Club episode discussing a recent article in Pediatrics titled “Fathers, Breastfeeding, and Infant Sleep Practices: Findings From a State-Representative Survey.”  Here’s what we will learn from the article. 

Exploring the Study:

• Brief overview of the scientific study assessing infant breastfeeding initiation and safe sleep practices among fathers.
• Emphasis on the significance of including fathers in promoting breastfeeding and safe sleep for infants.
• Introduction of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) for Dads, the population-based cross-sectional study from Georgia.

Infant Breastfeeding Initiation and Paternal Characteristics:

• Highlighting the study’s findings that 86.1% of fathers reported infants ever breastfed.
• Noting that 63.4% of fathers reported breastfeeding at 8 weeks.
• Discussion of the influence of paternal characteristics:
  • Fathers who wanted the infant’s mother to breastfeed were more likely to report breastfeeding initiation and continuation at 8 weeks.
  • Fathers with higher education levels (college graduates) were more likely to report positive breastfeeding outcomes.

Safe Sleep Practices and Paternal Influence:

• Pointing out that around 81.1% of fathers reported placing their infants on their back for sleep.
• Noting a discrepancy in safe sleep practices:
  • Fewer fathers reported avoiding soft bedding (44.1%).
  • Even fewer fathers reported using an approved sleep surface (31.9%).
• Only two-thirds (68%) reported receiving education about all three aspects of safe sleep
• Fathers more likely to report they received education via their partner vs directly from healthcare professional

Promoting Involvement and Education:

• Discussion of the implications of the study’s findings on father involvement in infant care.
• Emphasizing the importance of engaging fathers in breastfeeding support and safe sleep education.
• Stating that the study highlights opportunities for improving infant feeding and safe sleep practices through targeted education.

Conclusion:

• Recap of the study’s key findings regarding infant breastfeeding initiation and safe sleep practices among fathers.
• Encouragement to recognize the crucial role dads play in their babies’ well-being.
• A call to action for increased access to health education for fathers to improve infant care practices.

Closing:

• Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Docs2Dads Podcast.
• Stay connected for more insightful discussions on parenting topics that matter.
• Remember, dads, your involvement matters – let’s ensure our children’s health and safety together.