From "Oh, Baby! Loving (and Surviving) Your Newborn's First Year" ...

I RECOMMEND THAT ALL DADS TAKE CARE of their kids, alone, for a large chunk of time: a whole day, a weekend—and not just once, but regularly. It gives them a chance to learn how to relate to the baby in their own unique way.
—JOHN KIM
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

FEED YOUR BABIES, CHANGE THEM, PLAY WITH THEM, take them for car rides, whatever puts the two of you together. When you walk in the house at the end of the day and hear “Dad-eeeeeeeee!” and a pair of little feet running to the door, it’s an amazing feeling.
—LT. COL. DAVE EATON, USAF
FT. WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA

ANYTHING PHYSICAL—TOSSING BABY IN THE AIR, swinging them, raspberries on tummy, severe tickling—will help you bond with your baby. Mom may not like it but baby sure will.
—MARK KAPLAN

LET YOUR BABY HEAR YOUR HEART. I used to lay our twins on my chest so they could listen to my heartbeat and fall asleep. I read somewhere that babies can get to know you this way.
—PAT BOEA
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

DEVELOP A PRIVATE RITUAL WITH YOUR CHILD—something the two of you share that nobody else (including your spouse) does. When my daughter is done bathing, I wrap her up tightly in blankets and hold her close to me. It might sound simple, but moments such as these are crucial, because they’re the foundation to build a lifetime of good memories upon.
—ANONYMOUS
CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO

DAD SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE WITH THE BABY, so he can’t pass him or her off to his mom or someone else. Often, it is their insecurity about the baby that makes them hesitant to help with the baby care. Once they know they can do it, both you and he can relax.
—SHARI LEE SUGARMAN
NORTH BABYLON, NEW YORK