Dad.Info - News

Bullying â“ recognising and dealing with it

Steve Cochrane, Dad Info — 2010-02-23T09:00:00+01:00

The thought that your child is being bullied is one of the most worrying aspects of being a dad, leaving you feeling powerless, frustrated and unable to help your child. This needn't be the case, however. Even though, by definition, bullying is something that happens to your child when you're not there, there are ways of spotting if your child may be being bullied, and positive steps you can take to bring it to an end.

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Baby's health: A family business

Duncan Fisher, Dad Info — 2010-02-15T09:00:00+01:00

What ALL family members know, think and do about the health of babies has a big impact - no parent operates alone… a baby’s health is family business. This article is about who does what in the first months of your baby’s life – not just what mum does.

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Connecting with other dads online

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2010-02-15T09:00:00+01:00

Unlike mums, who seem to have an endless choice of online communities with lively discussions going on through the day, dads have a it a little harder. There's never really been a single online community that has exploded and become the 'go-to' place for dads. We explore the choices available to dads who are looking for a bit of fellow father company.

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Why don't men get more involved in caring for children?

Duncan Fisher, Dad Info — 2009-12-17T09:00:00+01:00

Men are MUCH more involved in looking after their children then they were 30 years ago. But not enough, according to children, who still say that they would like their fathers to be more available to them – more time and more in tune with their world.

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Dads' guide to Colic

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2009-11-30T09:00:00+01:00

Colic may be extremely common, affecting up to 20 per cent of newborn babies, but that doesn’t make it any less distressing for them – or you, as they howl with discomfort and nothing seems to help. We ask an expert what dads can do to help keep colic at bay

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Duncan Fisher's speech to Royal College of Midwives in response to Michael Odent, on fathers at the

Duncan, Dad Info — 2009-11-26T09:00:00+01:00

The best thing ever written on fathers at the birth was written in 1959 in a book Childbirth without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read, one of the most influential thinkers in this field last century. This debate today in 2009 represents our failure to get this issue right for 50 years.

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Health in Pregnancy Grant

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2009-11-26T09:00:00+01:00

The Health in Pregnancy Grant is a one off payment of £190 to mums-to-be who are at least 25 weeks pregnant. It's designed to help support the general health and wellbeing of women in the later stages of pregnancy. The mother may choose what she spends the grant on, taking into account advice from her midwife.

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Being a separated dad

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2009-08-05T08:00:00+01:00

No father wants to be separated from his kids. But millions of dads now live apart from their children. Luckily, with a little common sense and compromise from you and your ex, you can still have a great time with your kids.

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Family separation: how the UK gets it wrong

Adrienne Burgess, Dad Info — 2009-08-05T08:00:00+01:00

Australia has a simple system: when parents separate, you get two lone parents, not one. Both parents get help through the tough change from parenting together to parenting apart. In the UK, the system's a shambles - the state only 'sees' one parent after separation. Shouldn’t we be learning from the rest of the world?

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10 dad festival essentials

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2009-07-23T08:00:00+01:00

Heading out to a festival with your kids? As any parent knows, taking children to a festival can be great fun – but it can also be a logistical nightmare. We've pulled together a list of 10 of the most useful items you can take along with you to help things run smoothly.

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Babies and sleep

Stuart Shepherd, Dad Info — 2009-06-23T08:00:00+01:00

Listen to all the heroically nightmarish - and generally exaggerated - claims of "How I survived on 15 minutes' kip every 24 hours until our firstborn was three" and you would be forgiven for believing that chronic fatigue is a necessary condition of fatherhood. Dad-of-three Stuart Shephard looks at the downside of a newborn and offers tips on getting through it...

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Big Fatherhood Debate

Tom, Dad Info — 2009-06-23T08:00:00+01:00

Britain’s dads are more actively involved in their children’s lives than ever before. And we know fathers matter hugely to their children. But there’s lots we do not know about today’s fathers, and many different points of view about fatherhood.

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Common baby illnesses

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2009-06-10T08:00:00+01:00

From the common cold to constipation, babies are more prone to infection than adults and can become ill quickly. Dad Info sets out a baby's most common complaints.

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The Think Fathers Campaign - how you can help

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2009-04-14T08:00:00+01:00

The UK Government has launched a campaign around fatherhood issues called "Think Fathers". They aim to stimulate a national public debate about fatherhood and raise awareness of the roles that fathers play in Child Development. Here's how we can get our views heard.

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Child development email course from Dad Info

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2009-03-31T08:00:00+01:00

If you're a father with a child under 5 years old, sign up for our free child development course.

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Easy riders: from boy racer to dad driver

Matt Seaton, Dad Info — 2009-03-17T09:00:00+01:00

Your whole life will change gear once baby is on board. But help is at hand as Matt Seaton from The Guardian steers you through the transition to grown up daddy driving...

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Dads through the ages: a history

Adrienne Burgess, Dad Info — 2009-03-03T09:00:00+01:00

Fatherhood changes with the times, and wasn’t always as we’ve believed it to be. Adrienne Burgess shows how fatherhood was shaped through culture and economics (mainly in Northern Europe) and how it continues to shape YOU as a father. And we ask: “how new is ‘new’ dad?” . . .

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Helping at the birth: what can you do?

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2009-02-15T09:00:00+01:00

You've painted the spare room, had the hospital bag packed for weeks and planned your journey to the hospital. But your involvement doesn't stop there...the support you give your partner at the birth can make a world of difference. So what can you do to help?

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First aid skills for babies: what should I know?

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2009-01-31T09:00:00+01:00

One of the most distressing times for any parent is having to cope with an injured or unconscious child. There may well come a time when you have to react on instinct, and that's the moment when your knowledge of First Aid could save your baby's life.

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The best video games for dads and kids

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2009-01-07T09:00:00+01:00

Kids love video games. So do dads. Perfect combination? Only if you can find the games that both are going to love! Here's the top ten, with reviews from Paul Govan at Game People.

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Bedwetting problems

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2008-11-21T09:00:00+01:00

Bedwetting can be a really embarrassing problem and affects around half a million kids aged 5 - 16 in the UK. We present a short film produced by ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) that can offer some help.

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Movie parties

Andrew Burgess, Dad Info — 2008-11-21T09:00:00+01:00

Birthday parties seem to get harder as your kids get older. When they start hitting eight, nine and ten, pass-the-parcel and musical statues just don’t seem to cut it any more. So, when my own daughter, Frankie, asked if she could have a ‘movie party’ with her friends – where they planned to film their own version of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ – it was with more than a little trepidation that my wife and I agreed. Little did we know that just three years later we’d be running a business – Movie Parties – helping other parents to do the same!

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Homework: how can I help?

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2008-11-11T09:00:00+01:00

As soon as your child starts school, you’ll be hit by weekly and then daily doses of homework. Whether it's Key Stages or GCSEs, you may need a little help working out when it's best for you to help and when it's best to leave them to it...

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Divorce in Scotland: your action plan

Dr Martin Crapper, Dad Info — 2008-10-22T08:00:00+01:00

The realisation that your marriage is over is very painful. It can be accompanied by high levels of conflict and mistrust. When you decide to divorce, you both need to make sensible decisions in order to minimise the impact on your children. We take you through the divorce process.

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Divorce and separation: the law in Scotland

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2008-10-21T08:00:00+01:00

In Scotland, the legal processes for divorce, separation (ending a non-married relationship) or ending a civil partnership are quite different to each other, and different from England and Wales. We explain the basic process for each.

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Kid style: the basics

Steve Cochrane, Dad Info — 2008-10-08T08:00:00+01:00

There'll come a time when your young kids get to choose their own clothes. When they do, they'll go out of their way to wear stuff that you either don't like or frankly can't understand, since "Yeah, my dad say's they're really cool" will never be an acceptable response to the comment "Like your jeans mate".

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Local support for dads: what is there?

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2008-10-01T08:00:00+01:00

All of us feel out of our depth at times, and you may get to the point when you need advice, local support or other parents to talk to. The good news is that there is more of this kind of help available for British dads than ever before. ...

Great sports for girls

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2008-09-15T08:00:00+01:00

Let’s face it. On average it’s harder to get girls involved in sport than boys – but don’t despair. Gavin Evans, a father of two (reasonably sporty) teenage daughters, spells out some of the ways that your daughters can keep fit in their earlier years...

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New ante-natal programme for dads launches

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2008-09-12T08:00:00+01:00

The Fatherhood Institute is inviting Children’s Centres and other family services to take part in the UK version of a groundbreaking American ante-natal peer support programme for dads-to-be.

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Childcare: what are the options?

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2008-09-03T08:00:00+01:00

Modern parenthood is often about striking a balance between caring for your children and earning a crust, with many families needing outside help to cope. If you don't know your nannies from your au pairs, read our guide to childcare and decide what's right for you and your family.

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Your newborn: do's and don't for the first few weeks

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2008-08-20T08:00:00+01:00

From the nerve-wracking first feed to the constant roundabout of nappy changes, taking care of a newborn involves learning a whole new skill set. Read our tips and brace yourself!

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The Swedish paternity leave system

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2008-08-11T08:00:00+01:00

Dad Info was lucky enough to be invited to Sweden by Baby Bjorn, who love dads, and design their products to appeal to men and women. Together with Dadlabs and FQ magazine, we looked at the swedish paternity leave system, and met some of the dads (and their children), who took it. Here are the insights we gained into what makes their paternity leave system work for dads, mums, children and society.

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The world's most involved dads

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2008-08-09T08:00:00+01:00

Like most dads, you’re probably proud of how closely involved you are in your children’s lives. But how do UK dads compare with others around the world in this way? Are we more or less involved than Swedish dads, say, or Italians? Dad Info takes a look at the research.

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Being at the birth: the pros and cons

Tom Beardshaw, Dad Info — 2008-08-06T08:00:00+01:00

We used to be down at the pub waiting for a phone call, with cigar and stiff whiskey at the ready. Now it's all changed, and most dads attend the birth. Good idea? Bad idea? Dad Info rehearses the arguments for and against.

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Why don't men think they're good with babies?

Jack O'Sullivan, Dad Info — 2008-08-04T08:00:00+01:00

You may think you're going to be ham-fisted with a baby, but research shows that dads can be as sensitive and skilled with babies as mums. Lots of women think they are too. So you're safe to be confident and hands-on.

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Top ten sporting dads

Steve Cochrane, Dad Info — 2008-08-01T08:00:00+01:00

Becoming a top sports star requires hard work, dedication and innate ability. The same could be said for being a top dad. So how good a trick is it to pull off a combination of the two? Here, in no particular order, we present our Top ten sporting dads...

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The best selling toys of the last 50 years

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2008-07-30T08:00:00+01:00

Remember Eagle-Eyed Action Man? And the Space Hopper? Ah, for the toys of yesteryear, before kids clamoured for the latest flashy computer game or all-singing, all-dancing robot. To show you just how much toys have changed over the last 50 years, here's a guide to the bestsellers of each decade.

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How dads affect newborn babies

Gavin Evans, Dad Info — 2008-07-30T08:00:00+01:00

Some fathers assume their role only really kicks in when their babies are weaned, but new research shows you can make a major positive impact right from the start. Find out how to give your baby a flying start.

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Are video games a problem for children?

Dan Roberts, Dad Info — 2008-07-29T08:00:00+01:00

Should you be worried if your son or daughter is glued to their Xbox or PSP? Should you restrict their daily game time, or just the games they play? And, despite their bad press, can video games actually be good for children?

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Getting flexible work: maximise your chances of success

Cathy Rogan, Dad Info — 2008-07-28T08:00:00+01:00

The law sets down a procedure for asking for a change in your hours but your employer is not obliged to say yes. You can only make one formal request per year, so you need to make sure your request counts. How do you make an offer they can't refuse?

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