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The Dad Factor: How Father-Baby Bonding Helps a Child for Life
This stimulating book explores many fascinating new understandings of the importance of a father in a child's development. Richard Fletcher, a pioneer researcher in the area of men’s health and family issues, examines how a father's close bond with his baby is vital for the development of the child’s healthy brain structure and their cognitive and emotional development. The Dad Factor presents explanations of why a father’s involvement with his child, right from birth, is vitally important to the development of a child’s brain and emotional stability. In this book, Richard Fletcher considers new findings, including how, in the first hours after birth, a baby is primed to react to the father’s voice he or she heard when in the womb; how father–baby bonding matters for the child’s emotional, physical, and cognitive development; and how the way that a father interacts with his baby can shape the structure of the baby’s brain. The effect of a dad simply "playing around" with his child can alter the pathways formed by the neurons in the brain of that growing infant. (So fathers playing "peek-a-boo" are not wasting time, but doing the real stuff of parenting!) Additionally, Richard Fletcher addresses some contentious issues of child development, examines the evolution of a father’s role, and uses feedback from men in his parenting classes to answer many questions a new father-to-be might have.
- GenresParenting
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
About the author
Richard Fletcher
20 booksVarious authors
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 21, 2015
Loved this book!
I think everyone expecting a baby needs to read it. However, it’s definitely not a book everyone would be able to read, so maybe get the reader in the family to summarise for the other partner!
Good points:
• Well-researched facts about dads and their impact in families. It’s not just someone’s opinion, it’s actually backed up. The author is a university professor, so it is very informative and factual (this might make it hard to read if you’re not a big reader).
• It explains why dads are different to mums, and that that’s a really good thing. This is why I think all mums should read the book too. Dads aren’t supposed to be the same or do things the same way as mums, and that’s good for everyone to know.
• It explains some good points about kids’ needs, which other books haven’t really touched on.
• It’s about parenting both babies and kids, not just one or the other. It’s about dad’s involvement right from the start.
• It does talk about single parents too.
• It gives confidence to dads to be themselves.
Bad points:
• Not the easiest read if you’re not used to this style of writing (i.e. case study, research, facts).
• Mums are still important too, not just dads.
Recommended for:
• Dads-to-be
• Mums-to-be
• Dads with a baby or young kids who wants to be involved
• Mums with a baby or young kids
• It’s just as important for mums to understand the importance of their partner’s unique parenting style as it is for the partner.
I think everyone expecting a baby needs to read it. However, it’s definitely not a book everyone would be able to read, so maybe get the reader in the family to summarise for the other partner!
Good points:
• Well-researched facts about dads and their impact in families. It’s not just someone’s opinion, it’s actually backed up. The author is a university professor, so it is very informative and factual (this might make it hard to read if you’re not a big reader).
• It explains why dads are different to mums, and that that’s a really good thing. This is why I think all mums should read the book too. Dads aren’t supposed to be the same or do things the same way as mums, and that’s good for everyone to know.
• It explains some good points about kids’ needs, which other books haven’t really touched on.
• It’s about parenting both babies and kids, not just one or the other. It’s about dad’s involvement right from the start.
• It does talk about single parents too.
• It gives confidence to dads to be themselves.
Bad points:
• Not the easiest read if you’re not used to this style of writing (i.e. case study, research, facts).
• Mums are still important too, not just dads.
Recommended for:
• Dads-to-be
• Mums-to-be
• Dads with a baby or young kids who wants to be involved
• Mums with a baby or young kids
• It’s just as important for mums to understand the importance of their partner’s unique parenting style as it is for the partner.
September 17, 2019
An interesting and fairly useful read, but I'm not sure it has a great number of insights beyond some relatively well known (and even common sense) modern fathering advice. It's written in a very clear style, but I didn't find it highly compelling.
July 31, 2020
Claro y rápido, aunque me faltó un poco más de sustento y contrapuntos. Lo bueno es que me dio sustento para mi argumento de salir con el cabro chico a cazar mamuts con las manos
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February 27, 2022Interesante y práctica visión de las opciones de un padre durante la crianza de sus hijos, puede ser más que un proveedor. Imprescindible para todo padre.
April 23, 2026
Pretty basic and a bit sexist. Not a great read but at least it's a quick one.
August 11, 2014
El libro es sencillo y rapido de leer. Espero que sirva para el desarrollo de los primeros bebés.
September 5, 2014
Fascinated by this book and experiments it detailed. Explained role of fathers really well and the impact they can have on their children. Now I look at my husband and how he parents in a new light.
January 22, 2017
A really well researched and plain language guide to bonding and attachment for fathers. A great mix of science and practical advice
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews