DadSpace Blog

PIRI is conducting a research study to evaluate DadBooster. This research study will evaluate the effectiveness of the DadBooster program as a treatment for dads experiencing depression and anxiety after the birth of their child.

Parenthood is a time of transition, requiring you & your partner to mobilise lots of your resources and energy to cope with it. New parents must adapt to a new role with enormous ongoing demands and responsibilities.

When your baby first arrives home your schedule is completely out of your hands. Managing your time can be very difficult. Here's a few tips on how to develop a flexible plan for time management.

Your baby will thrive on getting lots of physical contact, attention and care from you. Sensing your baby's needs will allow you to respond in a way that is sensitive and appropriate to your baby's gestures and sounds.

Stress can get in the way of overcoming depression. Did you know you are more likely to feel "down and overwhelmed" when you are feeling stressed?

Just because you are the parent it does not mean you automatically know what to do when it comes to meeting the needs of your baby. Here's a few tips for dads on sleep & caring for baby.

Having a network of personal supporters can ease at least some of the burdens you are experiencing as a new Dad. Your support network can include your partner, your family members, mates or sporting club members or new contacts you make with local Dads you meet through your baby.

Solving problems is a skill that helps you when a difficult situation arises. It gives you a process for thinking through options, trying out possible solutions, and revising the game plan as needed to figure out what will really work for you, your partner and baby.

Effective communication means being able to communicate clearly and graciously, asking for what you want and saying "No" to things you don't want. Here's a few tips on developing your communication skills.

It is important you look after yourself physically and emotionally. This means making sure you get sleep, exercise and eat well. Whilst doing these things with a baby in the home might seem difficult, with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be impossible.

In order to be a good father and partner, it is important that you look after yourself physically and emotionally. This means making sure you get sleep, exercise and eat well. Whilst doing these things at a time when there’s a new baby in the house might seem difficult, with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be impossible.

Many new fathers wonder what they can do with their babies, when most interaction (especially in the beginning) seems one-sided - a little like talking to yourself. However, think of yourself as your baby’s favourite toy.

The traditional stereotype of a father as bread winner and disciplinarian has changed, with more dads playing a hands-on parenting role. But every father is different and the role doesn’t come with a job description.

The impact a baby may have on the couple relationship is a key. Many men underestimate the enormity of this life change impacting not only on wellbeing, but managing sleep deprivation and extra demands whilst at the same time continuing a demanding work schedule.

There’s a growing body of evidence finding that biological changes - shifts in hormones and brain activity - happen in men, too. And these shifts are just one part of the picture.