How can baby’s dad build more bond?

I think dads can find it harder to bond when they are so little. I breastfeed as well but as our little girl had weight loss after birth and was offered a bottle of formula to top up my husband did those feeds which helped their bonding. Could this be something dad could do if you pump and offer a bottle? Just a thought and by all means ignore it if you exclusively breastfeed. Our antenatal teacher also said sometimes it’s when they get older and can play, then they bond well with dad as he can play with them. Also my husband does do skin to skin with our little girl and I think that has helped and she’s 4 weeks now, I don’t think it would be too late to try if your husband wants to x

@Chloe thanks for your suggestions! I do think maybe I should pump but I wanted to delay pumping (or never pump) as I feel I’m establishing the right amount of milk for her and I feel pumping will confuse it all. That’s true that when she’s older she will acknowledge him more and that should help! I will try to get him to do skin to skin then , it’s so hard because my husband is really not great with nappies and then feeding is also on me, and then she doesn’t even settle with him so it’s feeling like im sole responsible 24/7! Hopefully she will bond with him soon 😅 xx

Some things that helped for us is letting him do a bottle, I bf but just do a bottle of formula at bedtime so he can do that. He did bath time with our first when she was a little older, now we do it together as we have her and newborn to manage. Also, try and let him find his own way of doing things. It can be tempting to correct them as we know better (we probably do) but it puts them off trying. Let him practice with nappies and give some pointers if he's leaving giant gaps or whatever, but don't let nappies default to you. Also getting her to sleep. Obviously he can't bf but he could find another way. While on paternity leave my husband would take baby for 2 hour walks when I'd just fed to sleep. He bounces baby to sleep on my maternity ball... I'm sure there are other things your hubby can do too it is just finding them.

I have a 2 year old who was breastfed who also has parent preference to me and my newborn also mostly needs me as he’s also breastfed (and cluster feeding!). Dad bonds in other ways with our 2 year old. He makes her laugh like no one else can. He can do other things for them like nappy changes, supporting you, playing with them (when newborn older). I heard baby massage is good for baby bonding because of the skin to skin. Maybe you could look for a local dads baby massage group

my other half had this with our first. can't remember what age it was but she changed. and ever since she's only really wanted her daddy. x