“Father-Child Handbook” for use from pregnancy to support new fathers

“Men work, women take care of the home.” In 2023, these words may evoke a strong sense of discomfort for many.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the amount of time fathers spend on childcare is increasing yearly, but it remains only about a quarter of the time mothers spend on childcare. The government is working to bridge this gap by promoting paternal leave through the “Thank You, Dad” Project. However, the reality is that the environment for fathers to be actively involved in childcare is far from ideal.

Of the male full-time employees surveyed, 37.5% stated that they wanted to use the childcare leave system but could not. As society doesn’t expect fathers to be involved in childcare, fathers alone with their children are often asked, “Where’s mom today?” Unlike women who gradually prepare to become mothers by experiencing pregnancy and bodily changes, men often become fathers without proper preparation due to the absence of bodily changes and limited opportunities to learn about pregnancy and basic childcare knowledge.

Considering this situation, the Daddy Support Association was established to create a society where fathers can actively participate in childcare. The association is currently working on creating a “Father-Child Handbook,” similar to the existing “Mother-Child Handbook.” This handbook will include basic information on pregnancy, maternity, and childcare, as well as essential knowledge for protecting both parents and ensuring safe childcare practices.

While some municipalities have already created their own Father-Child Handbooks, they tend to lack information on women’s bodies during pregnancy and are not easily accessible online. The Daddy Support Association aims to create a system where fathers can receive the handbook when collecting the Mother-Child Handbook or visiting the hospital. By providing fathers with this knowledge from early pregnancy, the association hopes to establish a social system that supports fathers in childcare.

To quote from Daddy Support Association’s crowdfunding page, “Fathers often feel the pressure to work harder once their child is born, which can lead to mental health issues.” These are the words of a father of two daughters and a member of the Daddy Support Association who experienced postpartum depression. While the difficulties faced by mothers have been well-documented, opportunities to hear about the challenges of fatherhood are surprisingly scarce.

The Daddy Support Association was founded by three individuals – an obstetrician, a male childcare worker, and a person who experienced postpartum depression – who each felt the difficulties of fatherhood and the fear of fathers collapsing under pressure.

The goal of the Daddy Support Association is not to promote “good” childcare but to ensure that both parents can engage in childcare healthily. By equipping fathers with the correct knowledge from pregnancy to childbirth and childcare, they can protect the health of both mothers and themselves. The mental health of parents greatly affects their children, making the organization’s mission to “support fathers for the health of the entire family.”

The Daddy Support Association is currently crowdfunding to create the Father-Child Handbook. In addition to the handbook, they aim to establish a portal site for childcare information, classes, and tools for supporting fathers, as well as conducting research. If you’re interested, why not take a look at their website? We hope this Father-Child Handbook, based on real experiences, will be the first step toward a society where fathers can actively participate in childcare.

Originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD.