Give Your Children a Healthy Start

About 31% of children aged 2-19 in the United States (that’s almost 24 million) are overweight. Children who are overweight have a higher risk of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes—all of which increase the chances that they’ll have cardiovascular diseases as adults. The risk factors for children are the same as the ones for adults:

Being overweight
Having a family history of cardiovascular disease
Having a congenital heart condition (meaning the child was born with it)
Being African American
Having high blood pressure
Exposure to cigarette smoke
Lack of physical activity
Having diabetes
Eating an unhealthy diet

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 60% of overweight children aged 5 to 17 years, have at least one of the above risk factors, while 25% of overweight children have two or more.

Of course, you can’t do anything about some of the risk factors (such as family history and ethnic background). But most of the others can be minimized or prevented by changing behavior. Because our children pay close attention to what we say and do (it may not always seem like it, but they really do), the best way to help them prevent cardiovascular disease is to set a good example. Ideally, you’d start teaching your children the basics when they’re very young, but it’s never too late to start.

Here are some important steps you can take to help your children live a healthier and longer life:

Encourage them to eat a healthy diet. This means:

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
Whole grains instead of processed ones
Lean proteins (meat, poultry, fish, beans, and lentils) instead of fatty ones
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products (milk and cheese)
Reduce sodium (Read the ingredient panel on food packages.)
Drink water instead of soda and juice
Limit fast foods, snacks, and desserts
Keep portion sizes reasonable and don’t overeat. (See My Plate below.)

Eat slowly. This gives children a better chance of noticing when they’re full. Also, discourage eating in front of the TV as this may make it hard to pay attention to feelings of fullness and may lead to overeating.
Have your kids help with the shopping and cooking.
Encourage them to get plenty of exercise. Children should get an hour of physical activity every day.
Make sure your children don’t smoke and that no one who lives in your house does.

Remember, you are your children’s most important teacher. So if you’re overweight, eat poorly, don’t get enough exercise, smoke, and/or drink too much alcohol, now’s the time to make some changes. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your kids.

There’s some fascinating research which indicates that fathers have a 17% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than married men without children. One possible explanation is that

whatever it is that increases men’s cardiovascular disease risk may also prevent them from having children. But a more interesting theory is that fathers take better care of themselves—in part because they’re changing their own behavior to set a good example for their children, and in part because having children has given their life more meaning and they want to be around as long as possible to enjoy it.

For more information visit
Healthy Food Makes Healthy Kids

Child Health, Wellness and Safety

Click the links to the left for more information.

Immunizations

Babies are born with protection against certain diseases because of antibodies passed to them via the placenta. Although they may be immune to some diseases, this is only temporary and most young children do not have maternal antibodies for diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B (HepB), or Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B).

It is important to give your children vaccines at a young age because that is when they are most vulnerable to certain diseases. As a parent, you may hesitate to have your kids vaccinated because you are worried that your children will have serious reactions or may get the illness the vaccine is supposed to prevent.

However, an infant’s immune system is more than ready to respond to the very small number of weakened and killed infectious agents (antigens) in vaccines. From the time they are born, babies are exposed to thousands of germs and other antigens in the environment and their immune systems are readily able to respond to these large numbers of antigenic stimuli. Some vaccines may cause mild reactions, such as soreness where the shot was given or temporary fever, but serious reactions are rare.

Without immunizations, your child’s body may not be strong enough to fight the diseases that could have been otherwise prevented with vaccinations. This could result in serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis (swelling of the lining of the brain), bloodstream infections, liver cancer (if they contract Hepatitis B), and even death.

Immunizations or vaccines are given early in an infant’s life. Their purpose is to help the body’s natural immune system fight off diseases. Some immunizations can give protection after a single dose, but most require booster immunizations to remain protected.

Speak to your child’s healthcare provider to determine the best vaccinations and schedule for your child. Vaccines may be given free to eligible children. Local health departments can also provide vaccinations for children at a very low cost, and they will not deny childhood vaccinations for those who cannot pay.

The CDC recommends vaccinations to protect children against

14 infectious diseases.

For More Information on Immunizations Visit:

NIH Medline Plus

Take a look at this vaccination chart and learn how immunizations may protect your child against childhood illnesses.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring08/articles/spring08pg7.html

Kids Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Illness

All children get sick at one point or another. Learning the signs of common illnesses is a good place to start – and knowing what to do and when to do it can give you peace of mind. Prevention is always better than cure and if your child has a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise, they stand a much better chance of fighting off germs and staying healthy in the first place.

Some of the common kid’s health problems are:

Fevers

Babies typically get fevers when they are fighting off an infection, especially during the first 3 months of life as their immune system is not that strong yet. When your child is sick, their body temperature will rise to fight off the unwanted infection. It is important to know that children’s body temperatures can naturally fluctuate during the day by a degree or two, and most kids will hit a high temperature of around 100.2 in the early evenings. The best way to check your child’s temperature is taking a rectal temperature. This is done by placing a digital thermometer in the baby’s anus. This method is accurate and gives a quick reading of the baby’s internal temperature. Do not use an oral thermometer to take a rectal reading as this can cause injury. Oral and rectal mercury thermometers have different shapes and one should not be substituted for the other. Rectal thermometers have a security bulb designed specifically for safely taking rectal temperatures.

Here is when you should be concerned about your babies fever:

For infants under 3 months old, anything 100.4 degrees (F) or above you should call the healthcare provider.
For infants between 3 and 6 months of age, call the healthcare provider when temperatures are 101 (F) degrees or above.
For children 6 months and above, call when temperatures reach 103 degrees (F).

Diarrhea

Usually caused by bacteria or a stomach bug and flu.
Keep in mind that when a baby is in the first few weeks of life, they often will have very loose and watery bowel movements that are not diarrhea.
If your baby is suffering from diarrhea, they are likely to be fussy and to show other signs of not feeling well.
Watch out for signs of dehydration such as having a decrease in wet diapers, a dry mouth or dry crying.
They may seem too lethargic and out of it.
If you have concerns over their symptoms, contact their pediatrician.

Cold

In a period of 45-60 days, a child will frequently contract a cold.
This can be due to a weakened immune system or allergies from pollen and dust.
Symptoms will last for 5-7 days.
Body ache, cough and runny nose are some the common symptoms of cold.
Nose drops and other medications can help to relieve these symptoms.

Flu

This is one of the most common childhood conditions and is caused by influenza virus.
Loss of appetite is one of the common symptoms of flu.
Measuring the body temperature is important. A temperature of more than 100 degrees maybe an indication that something is wrong.
It may be helpful to get your child a flu shot upon your healthcare provider’s recommendation.

Jaundice

Signs of jaundice usually appear between the 2nd and 3rd day after birth.
Signs include yellow skin and yellow eyes.
Your baby will usually be checked for jaundice prior to being discharged from the hospital.
If your baby is discharged earlier than 72 hours following birth, you should have a follow-up appointment to check for jaundice within two days of discharge.

Scarlet fever

This is a health condition characterized by red rashes on a child as a result of a bacterial infection.
The rash begins from the torso and spreads to the abdomen and other body parts.
There may be a rise in the child’s body temperature and they may have problems swallowing.
Bright red taste buds with white spots can be seen on your child’s tongue, which is known as ‘Strawberry tongue’.
The treatment of scarlet fever is by antibiotics as prescribed by your child’s healthcare provider.

Fifth disease

This condition is a type of rash. Although its not generally a serious condition, it is important to take your child to the healthcare provider.
Your child may have red rashes over the body and cheeks.
Give your child lots of fluids when you see this condition.
When your child has this condition, make sure to bathe them properly and make sure they are clean.

Some other common childhood illnesses

Constipation
Stomach ulcers
Lactose intolerance
Scabies
Dandruff
Heartburn
Nail fungus
Chicken pox

The following symptoms should always be treated as serious – and – you should call your healthcare provider right away if your baby is showing any of them:

A high-pitched, weak or continuous cry
A lack of responsiveness, reduction in activity or increased floppiness
In newborns, a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby’s head)
Neck stiffness (in a child)
Not drinking for more than eight hours (taking solid food is not as important)
A high temperature (see fever section) but cold feet and hands
A high temperature coupled with quietness and listlessness
Fits, convulsions or seizures
Turning blue, very pale, mottled or ashen
Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, grunting while breathing, or if your child is working hard to breathe, for example, sucking their stomach in under their ribs
Your baby or child is unusually drowsy, hard to wake up or doesn’t seem to know you
Your child is unable to stay awake even when you wake them
A spotty, purple-red rash anywhere on the body (this could be a sign of meningitis)
Repeated vomiting or bile-stained (green) vomiting

For More Information on Child Illnesses Visit

Kid Health

WebMd

Injuries/Safety

Twenty children die every day from preventable injuries. Injuries are the leading cause of death in young children and the death rate for young males is almost twice as high as that for females in all age groups.

For children under 1 year, 66% of injury deaths are due to suffocation.
Drowning is the leading cause of injury death for those 1 to 4 years of age.
For children 5 to 19 years of age, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury deaths.

Once kids start moving, they become very active and start to explore and even pop anything into their mouth. Pretty much, more independence and less adult supervision can put children at risk for injuries from falls, poisonings, and other accidents.

Falls

The majority of fall-related injuries in children under age 5 happen at home.

Most infants fall from furniture, stairs or baby walkers. The best way to prevent injuries is to:

Make sure your furniture is well padded, especially on the corners.
Always use safety gates to block staircases.
Make sure your baby’s crib is well secured and put the baby to sleep on their back.

Toddlers may also fall out of windows or off balconies:

Make sure that all furniture is moved away from windows so they cannot climb on them.
Install window guards and secure balconies with child resistant latches.

Older kids fall from playground equipment, bikes, scooters, roller blades, or skateboards. To minimize injuries:

Avoid play areas with hard surfaces.
Always insist that your children wear helmets when riding bikes, roller blades, scooters and skateboards. Helmets provide protective head padding should your child fall.
Never allow your kids to jump on furniture or run on slippery surfaces. Find more appropriate and safe activities.

Drowning

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injuries in kids aged 1 to 4. Although the majority of drowning accidents happen in swimming pools, kids can drown in bathtubs, buckets, coolers, ponds, lakes, ditches, fountains, toilets, pet bowls, or wading pools. All it takes is for you to leave your kid unsupervised for a few minutes near as little as two inches of water for a drowning to occur.

Remember the following:

Always empty water buckets and tubs after use.
Leave the toilet cover down and consider installing safety clips to prevent your toddlers from opening them.
Always make sure that your swimming pool area is well secured with fencing and gates.
Always place safety covers on pools and hot tubs to prevent your kids from falling inside when not in use.
Teach your child to swim from a young age. You can contact surrounding community centers for free swimming lessons.
ALWAYS supervise your kids when they are near water or swimming.
Use flotation devices if they do not know how to swim or don’t know how to swim well.

Poisoning

Children can be harmed by swallowing poisons or absorbing them through the skin. This can include cleaning products (e.g. Clorox, Ajax), cosmetics, alcohol, pesticides, pills and medicines, houseplants, carbon monoxide from unvented heaters or lead. To prevent injuries or death from poisoning:

Keep all poisons including household cleaners and cosmetics out of your children’s reach, store them in high cabinets or install safety locks
Separate all foods and household products
Do not mix cleaning solutions together
Always give them correct dosages of medicines, read the labels and double check to make sure you are giving them the right medicine
Never take medicine in front of kids or refer to it as candy or they might get curious and attempt to imitate you

If you think your child has been poisoned call 911 immediately!

Burns

Burns are a common cause of preventable injury, leading to the hospitalization of almost 40,000 children and over 1,000 deaths each year. Half of these injuries are in children under the age of 4 years.

Scalding liquids cause most burns in children under 5. Burns can occur as a toddler knocks over a coffee cup or grabs the handle and spills a pot of boiling water on the stove. Here are some things you should know about preventing burns.

Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
Avoid using portable heaters in rooms where children play or sleep.
Never leave children alone in a room with candles, space heaters or a burning fireplace.
Keep hot items in the center of the table and avoid using a tablecloth because children can pull on the cloth causing hot foods or drinks to fall onto the child.
While cooking, keep children at least three feet away from the stove, use back burners whenever possible and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
Don’t allow children to play around outdoor grills or open fires.
Install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Smoke detectors are the greatest advance in fire safety and burn prevention. Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Test smoke detectors every month and replace the batteries every six months.
Practice a fire escape plan with your children and make sure children have a safe way to reach the ground from upper floors, such as a non-combustible escape ladder.
Lower the water heater thermostat to 120° F or below.
Use a cool-mist humidifier in place of a hot water vaporizer to avoid steam burns and scalds often caused by hot water vaporizers.
Never leave a child alone in the kitchen when food is cooking.
Never carry a child and hot liquids at the same time.
Never warm a baby bottle in the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly and a child may be burned by hot spots.
Stir and test the temperature of foods before giving them to children.

If your child is burned or scalded, call your child’s healthcare provider immediately.

Treatment of burns depends on how severe they are. Burns may be:

First degree: limited to the outer layer of the skin, causing it to be dry, red and painful, but without blistering. A mild or moderate sunburn is an example of a first-degree burn.

Second degree: this burn is more serious, and involves blistering of the skin. This type of burn is also painful, but unlike a first-degree burn, the affected skin will likely appear to be moist.

Third degree: all of the skin layers have been penetrated and the burned area will be white, charred, firm and leathery. A third degree burn also destroys nerve endings, so your child may not feel pain in the burned area.

Fourth degree: extend down to muscle and/or bone, but fortunately, these are rare.

Also, remember that kids are curious.

While that is a good thing, they will try to explore and get into anything and everything. Keeping your baby safe at home gets more challenging as your little one starts moving. As a parent it is your job to make sure that they have a safe environment to do their exploring. You can do this by baby proofing your house. Make sure you install:

Cabinet child safety latches and locks for every room in your house.
Refrigerator locks, oven latches and stove knob covers for your kitchen.
Child safety locks for bathroom drawers and medicine cabinets, door locks, toilet locks.
Appliance locks and latches for TVs, DVD players and stereos and file cabinets.
For electrical safety, you can buy sliding safety plates and covers for standard plugs and outlets. This is important because younger children will try to put things in electrical outlets and this could result in electrocution.

For More Information Visit

NIH Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childsafety.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/safechild

Good Nutrition for Babies

A baby will grow more rapidly in the first year of his/her life than at any other time. By the time he/she is a year old, the birth weight will have tripled. This early period is a time that is important for their developing mind and body. During infancy, babies begin to learn to use their senses and their muscles begin to develop. They begin to communicate, and connections in their brain form.

Proper nutrition is a key to all these exciting changes!

Reasons for Good Nutrition

Good nutrition for infants is essential for normal growth and development.
As a new father, being involved in your infant’s eating habits will help him/her develop healthy attitudes toward foods, themselves, and others.
Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged two—19 years are obese. Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity in children has almost tripled.
Children that are obese are more likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, they are likely to have breathing problems and joint aches.
Obese children are at greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood.

What Should Babies Eat?

For the first four to six months of a baby’s life, his/her primary food will be breast milk or formula. These foods are rich in calories and nutrients. Babies need many more calories for their body size than older children and adults. Fats and cholesterol, vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates all have essential roles in growth and development.

Fats and cholesterol are essential for proper brain growth.
Vitamins and minerals help babies develop good eyesight, a healthy immune system, and good overall health.
Protein helps muscles to grow and develop properly.

Breast milk or formula provide all the nutrients a baby needs for growth in the early months of life, and they continue to be a primary source of nutrition even after other foods become part of his or her diet.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition…. for the first six months after birth”. The next section will discuss breastfeeding in more detail.

Breastfeeding

A new dad might think that his role in breastfeeding is a minor one but that is not the case! Studies show that the attitude of the baby’s father is the most important factor in whether or not a mother begins and continues to breastfeed. Although you can’t breastfeed your baby, you should learn more about breastfeeding so that you can be supportive of your partner’s decision.

The benefit for your baby

Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start in life. Not only is breast milk completely natural but it provides all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy growth and development.

Breast milk also has the following benefits:

It is easy for babies to digest and contains antibodies, which help support their growing immune system.
Contains friendly bacteria, which then help your baby’s body to fight off bugs and potential infections, helping your baby to grow up happy, healthy and ready for anything!
Contains fatty acids that help your baby’s brain develop.
Breastfeeding can help to protect your baby from chest and ear infections and some allergies, like asthma and eczema.
Research also suggests that breastfed babies go on to have healthier blood pressure as children and are less likely to become obese adults.

The benefit for you and your partner

Breast milk is free and it’s always at exactly the right temperature.
Breast milk is readily available, whenever and wherever you are; there is no need to sterilize bottles.
When your partner breastfeeds, she reduces her risk of developing pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer and fractures from osteoporosis.
It helps use up any extra pounds your partner may have gained during pregnancy.

Women.gov can give you more tips on breastfeeding. http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

Bottle Feeding

If your partner chooses to formula feed your baby, you’ll have plenty to think about. For a start, you’ll need to learn how to sterilize the equipment and make up a bottle. You’ll also need to know how to give your baby his/her bottle, and how often, and how to cope when you’re out and about.

How to make formula milk?

To make up a bottle of powdered formula, follow the instructions on the packet carefully. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Boil tap water and leave it to cool for no longer than half an hour.
Pour the required amount of water into the bottle.
Add the right number of scoops to the bottle with the scoop provided, using a clean knife to level it off.
Put on the teat and cover and give the bottle a good shake until all the powder has dissolved.
Test the temperature by tipping a little milk out of the teat onto the inside of your wrist. It should feel just warm, not hot.

Remember the following when feeding a baby from a bottle…

Always sterilize all feeding equipment before you use it.

This will help to kill any germs that can make your baby ill. You can do this by washing all bottles, teats, retaining rings and caps in clean, hot, soapy water, and then sterilize them. The best way to sterilize them is to purchase an electric steam sterilizer, or a microwave sterilizer. If you are not able to purchase one, then boil the equipment in a pot on the stove for at least 10 minutes.

Remember,

Take turns on night duty with your partner. Or try splitting the night up – one of you gets up from bedtime ‘til 3 am, and the other does the 3 am – 8 am shift.
Handle some of the bottle-feeding during daytime. It will help you to bond with your baby.

Sharing the responsibilities not only helps you gain confidence as a parent but also helps your partner out.

Visit WebMD to find out more information on bottle-feeding. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/supplemental-feeding-14/slideshow-bottle-feeding

What Do They Eat As They Grow Older And Bigger?

4 to 6 months: parents often begin to gradually introduce solid foods, beginning with cereal. Consult with your healthcare provider for the best way to do this.

About 7 months: vegetables are often added to the baby’s diet in addition to cereal.

After this: your baby’s diet expands rapidly. Babies often begin to be interested in chewing about this time, and if they have a few teeth they can begin to manage soft foods like cooked potatoes and carrots, bananas, or cooked fruit.

A baby can begin to eat many of the same foods that adults around him/her eat. However, anything that can be a choking hazard should be avoided. The majority of choking injuries and deaths in childhood are due to food items.

Examples of choking hazards are

Hot dog slices
Whole grapes
Peanut butter
Candies
Nuts
Uncooked carrots

Remember…

Babies should never be fed honey or corn syrup, as they have been known to make babies sick.
A baby should not be fed sodas or Kool-Aid. These empty calories may fill a baby up and prevent him/her from consuming enough milk or formula.

By 12 months: most babies are able to eat a wide variety of foods and participate at meal times with the rest of the family.

Nutrition Tips for When They Grow Older

Right now is the best time to teach your child to eat healthy. Your child is growing and picking up habits that will impact their future!

Sometimes, it can be hard and frustrating to get your children to eat healthy. But it is important that you encourage them to eat a healthy diet so that they will grow up liking and preferring the right kinds of food.

Remember, kids learn to do and like what you teach them. The sooner you start to teach them good food habits, the better, and the easier it will stick in their brains. This means:

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
Whole grains instead of processed ones
Lean proteins (meat, poultry, fish, beans, and lentils) instead of fatty ones
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products (milk and cheese)
Reducing sodium (less than 1,000 milligrams a day — read the ingredient panel on food packages)
Drinking water instead of soda and juice
Limiting fast food, snacks, and desserts
Keeping portion sizes reasonable and don’t overeat
Discouraging eating in front of the TV as this may make it hard to pay attention to feelings of fullness and may lead to overeating
Being a role model for positive behavior! Kids notice your eating habits, so try your best to practice what you teach!
Allowing them to help with grocery shopping and cooking. Not only will you spend quality time together but also your kids will watch and learn from you as they grow!

For More Information Visit

FathersConnection.org

What to Know About Babies

How Long Babies Sleep:

A newborn baby may sleep as much as 16 hours or more in stretches of 3 to 4 hours at a time. At first, these short stretches of sleep may be frustrating for you as they interfere with your sleep pattern. Have patience — this will change as your baby grows and begins to adapt to the rhythms of life outside the womb. As your baby grows, his/her periods of awakeness will increase.

When Babies Cry:

Crying is a new baby’s first means of communication. As time goes on, parents get a little more familiar to the type of cry and what the baby is communicating, but at first, every cry seems the same. A cry from your baby probably means one or more of the following:

Baby is wet
Baby is hungry
Baby is bored or lonely
Baby needs attention
Baby has had too much attention
Baby is in pain
Baby is tired
Baby is waking up
Baby needs to poop
Baby is uncomfortable (too hot, too cold, too constricted)

Picking Up, Carrying, and Laying Baby Down:

You may worry about accidentally dropping or mishandling your baby. Relax. Even severely sleep-deprived moms and dads rarely drop their children. When handling your new baby make sure you support weak neck muscles during the first four weeks. Here is how to keep your baby’s head from flopping around like a bowling ball at the end of a wet noodle:

Picking Up: Face your baby and gently slide your hand under his/her shoulder blades. Place your palm on the back of his/ her neck, using your fingers to support the head. Slip your other hand firmly underneath the baby’s buttocks. Lift her/him up slowly against your chest as sudden movements can startle the baby.
Carrying: There is a variety of safe holds. You can cradle your baby in the crook of your arm or lean him/her up against your chest. Use both hands and always support the head and neck. Avoid the temptation to answer the phone or open the refrigerator while carrying your child. Always place your baby in a safe place while doing other activities.

Laying Down: Lean down while keeping your baby against your chest, one hand behind his/hers head, the other supporting his/her back or bottom until your baby is safely resting on his/her back. Infants should always be placed on their backs in a cradle, crib, or bassinette. Doing this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Short periods of tummy time are fine under supervision.

Diapering:

For many dads, the thought of changing a diaper is gross. They think that since they don’t know how to do it, there is no reason to learn and so they leave it up to mom. However, if mom can do it, so can you. Your baby’s diaper should be changed right after it gets wet or soiled. Leaving it on any longer could result in diaper rash.

For More Information Visit

BabyCenter
http://www.babycenter.com/baby

Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_center/newborn_care/diapering.html

First Year Dads at Mr. Dad
https://mrdad.com/category/get-advice/first-year-dads/

Fathers Connection
http://www.fathersconnection.org/

Single, Divorced or Separated Dads

Even if you and your child’s mother are not together, you can still be involved in your child’s life. Caring for your children part-time doesn’t make you a part-time dad. Not living with your kids doesn’t mean you have to be cut off. Whatever the case is don’t let a bad relationship with your child’s mother stop you from being the father that you want to be. There are steps that you can take to make sure that you are involved with raising your child. Here are some:

Try to be involved with the pregnancy process. Offer to take your baby’s mother to pre-natal office visits. While there make sure you ask the healthcare provider as much as you can about the baby.
Help your baby’s mother with buying stuff that the baby will need and preparing for his/her arrival. This may include a crib, car seat, clothing and lots of other stuff. Being involved in this process will give her reassurance that you will support your baby once it is born.
Once the baby is born, don’t miss visits or let other people care for your children on your visits. This will make it appear that visitation and contact with your child is not important.
Don’t be late with child support checks so your ex-partner can’t pay bills on time. This ultimately hurts the children and puts a strain on your relationship with her.
As your child grows, make sure you stay involved in their life as much as possible. Call them, bring them gifts, and be present at birthdays and school meetings. This will ensure that your child grows up knowing who their father is.

Your Legal Rights as a Father

What does paternity mean?

Paternity means legal fatherhood. It creates ties between the child and the father, both emotionally and legally. In most States, an unmarried father is not automatically recognized as the legal father. Parents who are not married when a baby is born usually must establish paternity for their child to have a legal father. Dad, Mom and their child benefit when paternity is established.

There are two ways for unmarried parents to establish paternity:

Sign a legal document called an Acknowledgment of Paternity
Get a court order

Benefits for You

Your name can appear on your child’s birth certificate
It’s the first step toward protecting your legal connection to your child
It gives you the legal right to care for your child

Benefits for Your Child

Your child will know the identity of his/her father and his family
The legal bond of paternity establishment supports the emotional bond between a father and his child
It gives a child a sense of identity
It gives both parents access to a child’s school and medical records

For More Information Visit

Fathers Connection
http://www.fathersconnection.org/

Mr. Dad
http://www.mrdad.com/

Healthy Start – Male Involvement Program
http://www.nationalhealthystart.org/what_we_do/Male_Involvement.org

USA.gov
Find information on child support and divorces in your state
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Parents-Support.shtml

Positive Fathering

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of three children in America lives in biological father-absent homes.

Infant mortality rates are almost 2 times higher for infants of unmarried mothers compared to married mothers.

A study of nearly 6,000 children found that children from single parent homes had more physical and mental health problems than children who lived with married parents.

Fathers are diverse. They come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, with different backgrounds, ideas, world-views, hopes for their children, and ways of connecting with their children.

You are likely to view your role as a father based on one or more of these factors:

Your personal experience and relationship with your father
Your perception of what a father ought to be
Your spouse’s perception of fathering responsibilities
The portrayal of fathers in the media and entertainment industries
The influence of public perception of your role

Some Negative Effects of Being an Absent Father

20-30% higher probability of accidents, injuries and poisonings occurring
Increased chances of cognitive developmental delays
Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor
Infants are more likely to have a lower birth weight
The risk of infant mortality is almost twice as high

Benefits of Being an Involved Father

Fathers’ knowledge about breastfeeding increases the likelihood that a child will be breastfed.
Mothers experience less depression when they have a supportive partner.
When children become teens, they have a lower occurrence of psychological distress and engaging in risky behaviors such as smoking, drugs and stealing.
Children that spend more time playing with their fathers have better cognitive outcomes, as they benefit from both the mother and the father’s play styles.
Children are more likely to be successful in school and careers.
Children who grow up with involved fathers are more likely to take an active, positive role in raising their own kids.
Fathers feel more confident in their life and job.

SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD FATHER

Good fathering is hard work, but the most important job a man can have. To be a good father, it is important that you have these characteristic