Feeling lost as a new dad and ways to bond with the baby

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Transcription:

When the father has a new baby and feel lost and doesn’t know what to do, it is really important to be able to communicate some of those experiences with your partner. And ask for your partner to help you with being more comfortable and nurturing with the new experience of being a father. It is also very important for the partner to be able to give the support that you need and to allow you free time with the child, so that you can bond with the child and do it in a way that feels very comfortable for you, whether it’s play with the child in a way that you used to. Or also bring some of the strength that you have outside of the family into your relationship with your family. For example, if someone is executive at work and have communication skills and problem solves very well, allow the father to bring that into the relationship and be able to do those things with their children. Finally, it’s helpful for the father – or for you as a father – to be able to connect with nurturing experiences that you had growing up, such as playing in a team or nurturing a pet, and connect with that experience, so you can apply the same skills with your newborn.

Video Categories: BABY, Bonding and Communication, Bonding With Your Newborn, Advice for Dads

Chen Oren, PhD Psychologist and Author, shares advice for new dads on the best ways to bond with your new baby and how to overcome the feeling of being lost after your baby has been born

Transcript

Expert Bio

Chen Oren, PhD

Psychologist & Author

Chen Z. Oren, PhD, is a psychologist with a private practice in Westlake Village, CA. He is also a researcher, author, and speaker. Dr. Oren specializes in the psychology of men, fathers, and athletes. He counsels men, women, couples, and athletes and co-leads a weekly men's group. Dr. Oren’s work with men and fathers is focused on understanding their own experiences, challenges, and strengths to help them become fathers. He serves on the board of the American Psychological Association, Division 51, the Study of the Psychology or Men and Masculinity. He speaks locally and nationally on issues related to men and fathering issues, diversity, and effective counseling. His book, Counseling Fathers (Routledge), is designed to bridge the gap between fathers and professional helpers. He has ongoing research on fathers and therapy that looks closely at the experiences of fathers to better understand their strengths and their struggles. Dr. Oren received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from USC.

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