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  • Postpartum depression in young fathers

    A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that young fathers, those who became dads at an average age of 25 years, have a 68% increase in depression symptoms within the first five years of becoming dads. This applied to young dads who lived with their children and their wives or girlfriends. Dads who lived away from their children and older fathers did not show that same increase in rates of depression. So why might “postpartum depression” happen to dads? Isn’t that a “hormonal thing” that happens to new moms? But now that we know that this is an issue, can we and should we do something about it?

    What could cause postpartum depression in dads?

    The study carefully made clear that these results only show an association between becoming a dad and an increase in depression. The results do not show that becoming a father actually causes depression in young dads, but it makes sense that it might. They don’t suffer the same physical changes that are going on in new moms, but lots of aspects of parenthood are very stressful for a young dad. First, they are sleep deprived; exhaustion is a known cause of depression. Second, they suffer a kind of loss of their mate. Now mom is busy loving another person, often more than she loves her partner/spouse. Young dads may feel displaced, jealous, and guilty about that at the same time. The relationship between mother and baby is so intense and so culturally unique and special, that a young dad may really feel like a third wheel. Young dads, in particular, may have been enjoying a sort of fantasy new-love relationship with their beautiful partner, and now all of a sudden the rest of life has to do with spit up, dirty diapers, less sex, and a great deal of long-term responsibility. Young dads are also less likely to be secure in their jobs and their income. They may not feel strong in their ability to provide for their new family. All of this can certainly contribute to depression.

    Why does this matter?

    Depressed fathers “read and interact less with their kids, are more likely to use corporal punishment, and are more likely to neglect their kids. Compared to the children of non-depressed dads, these children are at risk for having poor language and reading development and more behavior problems and conduct disorders.” According to lead study author Dr. Craig Garfield, an associate professor in pediatrics and medical social sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, “Parental depression has a detrimental effect on kids, especially during those first key years of parent-infant attachment. We need to do a better job of helping young dads transition through that time period.”

    What can we all do about this?

    Just being more aware of how dads might feel when their babies are born is a start. So much of our focus is on the baby and on how mommy is doing. Dads are usually assumed to be fine, and to be there to help mom. The solution can start with the family and friends. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can offer to change a poopy diaper or two so that dads are not the only ones doing that. It may be a proud role for some new dads to be the diaper guy, but some may really hate it. Friends can take mom out for a walk so that dads can have some quiet, loving, alone time with the new baby if they want that. Or, if dad just needs to get out of the house for a while, friends can offer to watch over mom and the baby so that dad can get a break. Nights can be tough too, especially if dads have to go to work every day. Many young dads cannot afford to take leave from work when a baby is born, so they work all day and then try to spell mom during the night. Family and friends can spend a night here or there filling in for dad so that he can get a few full nights of sleep if that is an issue.

  • Corporate Office of Research Operations

    The Corporate Office of Research Operations (CORO) is responsible for supporting investigators and administrators in research.

  • Does teething cause a fever?

    One of the most challenging aspects of caring for young children is simply not knowing if and when something is wrong with them. Infants and toddlers can’t communicate what they’re feeling or what may be bothering them, so it often becomes a guessing game when parents sense something isn’t right. Is my baby sick? Is she teething? Does she have an earache? Is she constipated? We’re constantly looking for clues that may indicate what’s going on. 

  • How to transition your child with a chronic illness into adulthood

    The process of transitioning from a pediatric to an adult healthcare provider is often daunting, especially for children with chronic needs. As a result, parents taking care of children with lifelong illnesses often care for that child into adulthood. Children with asthma, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis, to name of few, require strict medication adherence and consistent follow-up. It is natural for parents to assume full responsibility in managing their child's illness. However, caretakers are encouraged to learn how to empower children to eventually take charge of their own medical care.

  • Should you give your kids dessert before dinner is done? A dietitian’s answer might surprise you.

    Like me, many children are fixated on that sweet treat after dinner. It can be that package of fruit snack gummies, chocolate chip cookie or that double fudge caramel brownie, pretty much anything sweet that catches their attention. During dinner, many kids wait impatiently for dessert to be available to the family, even when they feel full from dinner. Many kids have caught on to the idea of skipping dinner just because they know dessert is coming next. This is often when parents start making “dinner deals” with their kids, just so they can eat something on their plate. These deals can range anywhere from “you can have dessert if you eat your vegetables” or “if you do not try every food on your plate, you will not get a cookie”. When these “dinner deals” begin, it often gives kids the wrong impression – dinner is a punishment and dessert is the reward. 

  • How swaddling your baby the wrong way can lead to hip dysplasia

    Most people aren’t familiar with the term “hip dysplasia.” This little known condition is the leading cause of hip arthritis in young women and accounts for 10% of all total hip replacements in the United States.

  • Important considerations for the "same room, separate bed" infant sleep recommendations

    You may have heard of a recent change to infant sleep guidelines which advocate that parents sleep in the same room but not in the same bed as their baby.

  • "13 Reasons Why" suicide isn't the answer: what every teenager needs to know

    I’m sure by now, you have either heard of or watched the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. It first aired on March 31, 2017 and it has become one of the most talked about topics of the last few weeks. The premise of the series is simple- a teen commits suicide and leaves 13 tapes explaining the reasons why she did it and who, in her view, is responsible for her making this choice.

  • Ringworm: a common skin condition you can treat at home

    A few weeks ago, I noticed a round, reddened area on my son’s leg. When I asked him what caused it, he told me he got it from falling off his bed. I found it difficult to believe he had fallen on something so perfectly round that it made a complete circle on his leg, and he couldn’t pinpoint anything in his room that caused the mark. (Three-year-olds aren’t the best source of medical information, as you might imagine). I accepted his explanation for a day or two, but when I gave it second look I realized that it wasn’t an injury at all but a ringworm infection.

  • How to prepare for a hurricane if you have a child with a chronic illness

    Hurricane season is officially upon us, and forecasters predict the 2017 hurricane season to be more active than average. The 2016 hurricane season was the most active since 2012, with 15 named storms, including four major hurricanes (one of which made landfall on the Florida coastline), and 2017 is predicted to be similar, with experts expecting anywhere from 11 to 17 named storms with two to four of these becoming major hurricanes.