First Year Dads

Q: Our baby isn’t crawling yet, but he will be pretty soon. Basically he goes for anything within his reach. I’m assuming he’ll be the same way when he starts crawling. What should we do to childproof our house? A: Once your baby realizes that he’s able to move around by himself, his mission in [Readmore]

Q: Some friends of ours share their king-sized bed with their two children. They say that families all over the world sleep in the same “family bed” that it’s good for everyone. “Co-Sleeping” as they call it, still seems weird to me. Doesn’t it interfere with mom and dad’s relationship to sleep with the kids [Readmore]

Q: We have a newborn and my wife and I are both exhausted. Who do you think should take care of the baby when he wakes up at 3 a.m.? Do both of us have to suffer? Does our infant really need both of us there in the middle of the night? A: If your [Readmore]

Q: My wife and I are shopping around for day care. How can we tell if the facility will offer the proper care? Are there qualifications and credentials I should look for to make sure our child is safe and well cared for? A: Finding a quality daycare center or provider can be incredibly stressful. [Readmore]

Q: I’ve got a pretty flexible schedule at work and I’d really like to share the childcare equally with my wife. She seems so good at it, though, that I’m not sure I can ever catch up. Is there anything I can do to learn this parenting thing and feel like a competent dad? A: [Readmore]

Q: Everyone says that new mothers should breastfeed their babies but I’ve never really known why. Isn’t formula just as good for our child? And, I know this sounds nuts, but is there anything I can to do to stay involved while my wife is nursing? I feel so left out. A: Before their babies [Readmore]

Q: My son was born four months ago, and things are starting to settle down. We’re really enjoying our new roles as mom and dad. But every time I sit down to do some extra work on the computer, I feel guilty about leaving my wife to take care of our child since she’s with [Readmore]

Q: I used to be the center of my wife’s universe. We had a great relationship, we did things as a couple, and we communicated all the time. Now that we’ve had a baby, I’m jealous of all the time mom and baby spend together and I feel left out. Not only am I jealous [Readmore]

Q: Since I became a father, my wife and I haven’t been able to spend as much time with our friends as we used to. Some of them seem to understand that we’re new parents and our time is limited, but others don’t. They think we should be able to go out as a couple [Readmore]

Q: I’m a new father. I haven’t had much experience with infants and I want to be involved in my child’s care, but every time I try to pick her up, she cries. How can I feel more competent and help soothe my child so she’s more comfortable when I take care of her? A: [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a new dad and spend a lot of time learning how to be a great parent. Some of what’s out there is good (your books, for example), but a lot of it is insulting and condescending. Is it really necessary to treat parents like idiots? A: Tough question: A year or [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m seeing news stories all the time about how stay-at-home dads are becoming more common, and how fathers of all kinds are taking on a greater share of the parenting workload. While that sounds like it should be a good thing, I’m worried about how the kids will do. I have nothing [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m in the US Air Force, stationed in Italy. My wife is 5.5 months pregnant with our first and I’ve asked our on-base obstetricians to allow me to catch the baby when it’s born. I feel I should be the first person to hold my child, not some doctor we’ll never see [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 3-year old has been going to the same daycare for 8 months, but he’s still anxious and nervous every time I drop him off. I know that young children can have anxiety problems about unfamiliar places and people, but hasn’t this gone on long enough? A: I remember dropping off my [Readmore]

Q: I’ve got twins–a boy and a girl–and I find myself treating them differently. I know I shouldn’t. How can I keep myself from falling into stereotype traps and instead parent my children equally? A: Well, it’s not going to be easy; old habits are hard to break. But here are few steps that ought [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our six-month old baby has some serious sleep problems. We’ve tried everything—different bedtimes, skipping naps so he’ll be extra tired, changing lullabies, having him nurse just before bed and putting him down asleep, even getting blackout curtains for his room, but he still gets up in the middle of the night and [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I are going through a rough patch in our marriage. We’ve been talking about getting a divorce but are concerned about how it could impact our six-month-old son. Will it? A: Since children are all different and respond differently to the stresses in their lives, it’s impossible to predict [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We just had a baby and are eager to introduce her to my parents. But they live quite far away and are too old to travel. How soon is it safe to fly with an infant? A: Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule. Some experts advise waiting until the baby [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I thought I was doing the right thing by slathering my 1-year old with sunscreen when we go outside, but I just read that the chemicals in sunscreen could be more harmful than the sun. Now what are we supposed to do? A: Summer is winding down, but there are still plenty [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My baby’s mom and I are separated and I hardly ever get to see my 9-month old son because my ex is breastfeeding. Isn’t there some way I can spend more than just a few hours at a time with him? A: Feeding your baby is a wonderful way for the two [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad. My 9-month old daughter is happy and healthy in every respect (her pediatrician concurs). But all our friends are talking about the things they do to help their children grow, develop, learn, and so on. Is any of that really necessary? Will our daughter be okay if we just let her develop [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I have a 10 month old son. For the past two months, he and i have enjoyed “wrestling” – that is, I lie on my back and he crawls around on top of me and slides off or rolls off (guided so he doesn’t really crash). I also occasionally hold him upside [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife is due in three months and we’ve seen ads and flyers for cord blood banking. Several of our friends have signed up for it. Is it really worthwhile? A: Not all that long ago, placentas and umbilical cords were considered medical waste. But today, the stem cells found in umbilical [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife is breastfeeding but we’d like for me to be able to feed our 2-month old daughter as well. Can I give her a bottle without interfering with breastfeeding? If so, how is this done? A: Getting a chance to feed your daughter is wonderful on several counts. First, it’s a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I was up changing my baby’s diaper last night and saw green sparks shooting out of it. I called my wife in to show her, but it didn’t happen again. She thinks I’m nuts, but I’m quite sure I saw something. Could I have? A: You’re not crazy at all. What you [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I have a 2-week old baby boy, and I’m crazy about him. But I’ve suddenly started feeling really anxious, stressed, irritable, and sometimes even angry. My girlfriend says I could be suffering from male postpartum depression. I’ve never heard of guys getting postpartum depression, is it possible? If so, what can I [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our son is three weeks old and my wife is exhausted from breastfeeding. I have to be out of the house early in the morning to make it to work, but I do help her out between 2am and 4 am. But when I try to get a little sleep before or [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a 37-year-old mother of two, ages 18 and 5. I really want another baby, but my husband had a vasectomy immediately after our second child was born. At the time, I was exhausted and fighting post-partum depression, so when he came in an announced that he was getting the surgery I [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We’re having trouble getting our almost-four-month old daughter to take naps. Until a week or two ago, everything was fine. Now she won’t go down for more than 45 minutes. We’ve heard all kinds of advice on what to do, but we’re trying to let her sooth herself to sleep—and trying to [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My spouse and I adopted a 14-month-old baby boy. What can I do as a working father to build and cement a strong bond, since we have missed the early stages? A: The best thing you can do now is read everything you can about child development. You need to know what’s [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I are expecting our first and we’re on the fence about whether to hire a nanny or find a childcare center for our son. It would be great to have someone at home to take care of household chores, but our friends say that there are some great advantages—for [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My best friend just became the father. I used to spend three or four nights a week with them and he constantly called, texted, or e-mailed as well. Since the baby has been born it seems like he has begun systematically cutting me out of his life. Hardly any e-mails or texts, [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I are looking into “co-sleeping” with our new baby girl. When I told a neighbor of mine, she shook her head and said it was too risky and would “spoil” her, causing later behavior problems. What are the risks, the benefits, and what should we do? A: Co-sleeping, or [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have been trying for years to have a child of our own. We’re now considering adoption. But there’s so much to think about: Should we take in a foster child first, just to see how things go? Can we trust the State adoption agency? Will we be able [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I have a 1-year old who says only two words: mama and dada. My best friend’s son is two months younger and she’s constantly bragging about his vocabulary. It’s driving me crazy—and it’s making me worry that there might be something wrong with my child. When do children start talking? Do they [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’ve been reading more and more that baby bottles and sippy cups are made from harmful plastics. How do I know which ones are safe? A: You’ve probably been hearing about bisphenol A (BPA), which has been making headlines lately. Even if you haven’t heard of it’, it’s all over your house—besides [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My two month old wants to be held all day long. Everyone I know is telling me that she’ll grow up spoiled if I don’t put her down. Am I spoiling her? A: Not a chance! Here’s the only math formula that new parents need to know: wants = needs. It’s absolutely [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad, We have a 6-month old baby and my wife already wants to start trying for another one. Is that really a good idea? A: As you might have guessed, there’s no right answer. Many people say that having two children close together makes life easier, while others say it makes an already-stressful [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a new dad with a beautiful, two-month-old baby girl. My wife and I are going through a rough patch right now. I think she is suffering from depression. She says she feels inadequate caring for our baby. What can I do to help? A: First of all, I want to commend [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our son is eight days old and he seems to cry and get fussy a lot between the hours of 3:30am and 6am. Since my husband has to be up early in the morning to get ready for work, I feel guilty about asking him to tend to the baby at night. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Samantha Feuss, adoptive mother of two. Topic: When adoption doesn’t work out. Issues: The risks of international adoptions; what agencies don’t tell you about your adopted child’s background, age, and more; worries about being judged if an adoption goes bad; finding support from other parents and social workers who understand what it’s like. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Steve Hodges, coauthor of It’s No Accident. Topic: Breakthrough solutions to your child’s wetting, constipation, urinary tract infections, and other potty problems. Issues: 30 percent of kids 2-10 are chronically constipated and 25 percent of 5-year olds have problems with accidents and bedwetting; how it is that most bed-wetting problems are actually the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jennifer Hoekstra, Safe Kids Program Coordinator at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI Topic: Two recent studies showing an increasing in emergency room visits among children. Issues: Dangers of button batteries; making sure your batteries are out of the way; why swallowing batteries is so dangerous; dangers [Readmore]

Guest: Arthur Bradley, author of Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family. Topic: How and why to create a preparedness plan for your family. Issues: Food, water, shelter, light, electrical power, heating/cooling, air, sleep, hygiene/sanitation, medical/first aid, communications, financial preparedness, transportation, and protection. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: John Graves, author of The 7% Solution. Topic: You can afford a comfortable retirement. Issues: Getting a clear understanding of you financial situation in retirement; gathering income and expense data; understanding what financial advisers do—and don’t do; the importance of bonds; borrowing from retirement accounts; structuring your retirement so you can earn up [Readmore]

Guest 1: Joe Rawlinson, author of Dad’s Guide to Twins. Topic: How to survive the twin pregnancy and prepare for your twins. Issues: Preparations you need to make for newborn twins; answers to “how am I going to pay for all of this?” what twin gear you need and what you can skip; special challenges [Readmore]

Guest: Robert Sears, author of The Vaccine Book. Topic: Making the right decision for your child. Issues: How common or rare are various diseases that the vaccines are designed to protect against? The difference between live-and killed virus vaccines; which ingredients are controversial; what are potential side-effects and how can they be prevented; vaccines for [Readmore]

Guest 1: Megan Faure, author of The Babysense Secret . Topic: Learning how to understand your baby’s moods. Issues: Creating a baby-centric routine and struggle less to get your baby to sleep; understanding your baby’s sensory world and signals to avoid overstimulation, which leads to fussiness. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: Adam Pertman, author of Adoption Nation . Topic: How the adoption revolution is transforming our families and America. Issues: The big changes between the way adoptions are handled now and they ways they used to be; Why adoption isn’t always a second-best choice; adoptees’ quest for identity and adoptive parents’ fear of being [Readmore]

Guest: Katrin Schumann, author of The Secret Power of Middle Children. Topic: How middleborns can harness their unexpected and remarkable abilities. Issues: What makes middle children different from their older and/or younger siblings; middle children in the workplace; middle children as parents; parenting a middle child; specific positive and negative traits associated with middle children. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Sara Rosenquist, author of After the Stork. Topic: A couple’s guide to preventing and overcoming postpartum depression. Issues: What is postpartum depression (PPD)—and what isn’t it? The true causes of PPD; warning signs; why just as many dads as moms develop PPD; when expectations meet reality; the social side of PPD. Podcast: Play [Readmore]

Guest for both segments: Scott Simon, author of Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other. Topic: The joys and wonders of adoption. Issues: coping with the “failure” of not being able to get pregnant the natural way; what really makes a family; are we hard-wired to adopt? How and why do we fall in love? [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jennifer Gunter, author of The Preemie Primer. Topic: A complete guide for parents of premature babies–from birth through the toddler years and beyond. Issues: What is a preemie? Factors that increase the chances of having a preemie; how a premature birth affects the couple relationship; taking care of your emotional health; coping with [Readmore]

Guest 1: Suzy Martyn, author of Sleep Tight. Topic: Help your child attain a good night’s sleep in three days. Issues: Sleep myths and misconceptions; sleep routines for every age; handling special sleep challenges; establishing routine, expectations, and mood. Guest 2: Matthew Edlund, author of The Power of Rest. Topic: Why sleep alone is not [Readmore]

Sherrie Eldridge, author of 20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed. Topic: The secrets to understanding the unique needs of your adoptive child—and becoming the best parent you can be. Issues: Talking candidly with your child about her adoption and birth family; connect with other adoptive families to build a support network; help your child [Readmore]

Guest 1: Bob Halzleton, author of Dads Matter. Topic: Principles, lessons, and stories on the remarkable impact of fathers Issues: Being there physically and emotionally; communication; small stuff matters; how to live, know, and teach them, coping with hearbreak and death. Guest 2: Harriet Ziefert, creator of Begin Smart Books. Topic:The tremendous benefits of reading [Readmore]

Guest for both segments: Lise Eliot, author of Pink Brain, Blue Brain. Topic: How small differences grow into troublesome gaps — and what we can do about it Issues: Debunking the myths about gender differences; how the brains of boys and girls are largely shaped by how they spend their time as opposed to physical [Readmore]

Guest 1: Malina Saval, author of The Secret Lives of Boys. Topic: Inside the raw emotional world of male teens. Issues: Why the author believes that the “boy crisis” we hear about is overblown; understanding the landscape of boys’ social cliques; how parents can get closed-mouth sons to open up. Guest 2: Amy Nobile, coauthor [Readmore]

Guest 1: Marc Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins. Topic: Sleep training your multiples. Issues: The difference between healthy sleep and junk sleep; why it’s important for babies to learn to fall asleep unassisted; tips for synchronizing twins’ sleep schedules; recognizing early drowsiness clues so you can catch the sleep wave before it’s [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jeremy Friedman, coauthor of The Baby Care Book. Topic: A complete guide from birth to 12 months old Issues: Everything you need to know about your baby’s birth, first few days, growth and development, feeding, solid foods, sleeping, crying, and more Guest 2: Peter Langman, author of Why Kids Kill. Topic: Inside the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dawn Davenport, author of The Complete Book of International Adoption. Topic: A step-by-step guide to finding your child Issues: Choosing a country and agency; organizing the paperwork; finding the money; evaluating health Issues; traveling to adopt; adjusting to the first months at home Guest 2: Dimitri Christakis, author of The Elephant in the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jodi Mindell, author of Sleep Deprived No More. Topic: Helping you and your baby sleep through the night, from pregnancy to early motherhood Issues: Determining how much sleep your body needs; catching up on lost sleep; getting babies to sleep through the night; understanding sleep problems faced by school-age kids, tweens, and teens. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Darci Klein, author of To Full Term. Topic: Triumphing over miscarriage. Issues: Half of all miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities—but the other are not; understanding options; confronting resisting medical professionals and treating medical conditions that may be causing miscarriages or premature births. Guest 2: Mark Crawford, author of When Two Become Three. [Readmore]

Guest 1: David Ludwig, author of Ending the Foodfight. Topic: Guiding your child to a healthy weight in a fast-food/fake-food world. Issues: The truth about why most diets fail; why a low-glycemic diet is the key to any long-term weight management program; includes recipes and shopping lists. Guest 2: Lisa Druxman, author of Lean Mommy. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Amy Kovarick, coauthor of Baby on Board. Topic: Becoming a mother without losing yourself. Issues: Learning to focus on yourself while preparing for baby’s arrival; the importance of asking questions, like “who do I want to be as a mother?” discovering what will bring balance and fulfillment as the new mom juggles career, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Calvin Sandborn, author of Becoming the Kind Father. Topic: A son’s journey of self discovery. Issues: How a man’s relationship with his father influences who he is; helping men identify and discuss their feelings; learning to treat yourself and others as a kind father would; forgiving the less-than-kind father you may have had. [Readmore]