Preparing fathers for the transition to parenthood: recommendations for the content of antenatal education

Abstract

Fathers now provide more care for their babies and children than they have in the past, and a large body of evidence supports the important role that father involvement plays in determining child and family outcomes. Fathers have also become the primary source of informal support for most mothers and it is now customary for fathers to attend antenatal education in this supporting role. However, many fathers remain unprepared for their personal transition to parenthood and this has important implications for all of the family. Antenatal education is likely to be more effective for fathers when it addresses fathers' needs but the literature is unclear about what fathers need to know. This paper presents evidence-based recommendations for core subject matter to be addressed when preparing men for the important challenges of new fatherhood.