Husbands helping with diaper change and feeding

[Anonymous]

I know it's supposed to be a joint effort... Just wondering whether your husbands help with diaper changes and feeding the baby?

[Anonymous]

No. Well, very little. But I knew that going into it, so all is fine in our house.

[Anonymous]

Um, yeah. What possible reason could there be for it to be otherwise? (Even if you're nursing, there's the fetch-and-return-baby portion of the process, which doesn't explicitly require a uterus.)

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. He of course does more diaper changing than feeding, since I am breastfeeding. But when I pump, he washes all the parts and the bottles, and he gets the bottles ready for DD to take to daycare each morning.

[Anonymous]

Yes, he does most of the diaper changes when he's home, and he does one feeding (night bottle of BM; I nurse the rest of the time). For us his participation was just a given.

[Anonymous]

Yes. DD is 15-months old. DH has done maybe 60-70 percent of the total diaper changes and 30-40 percent of the feedings. (DD was breastfed exclusively during the first year, so we thought that was a fair allocation of the work).

[Anonymous]

My husband was a huge help. He did overnights and changed our son's diaper when he was home in the evening, and I didn't have to pressure him to help. I would get incredibly resentful if he didn't because we both work. He also has "his chores" around the house and I have mine. We have an equal household.

[Anonymous]

Yes to diaper changes and yes to feedings -- he's wonderful!

[Anonymous]

My husband is a wonderful help to me with our DD. He often urges me to get out of the house for some alone time. When I do, our daughter is fed and clean (he doesnt do dishes or clean up very well but as long as he helps me with her I don't care!!)

I always find it bizarre when other women I know sound surprised and shocked that he can take care of her alone. I often travel overnight as much as 4 consecutive nights and along with the nanny during the day he has it all under control.

[Anonymous]

Definitely helps. We made an agreement before DC was born that because I would be nursing exclusively, I would be responsible for what goes into baby (breastmilk) and he would be responsible for what comes out of baby (diaper changes). He probably changed 10xs more dipes than I did the first few months.

[Anonymous]

Of course! We both consider her our DD, so we both take care of her. We alternate night feedings. I get bottles ready for daycare and he puts them in dishwasher when we get home. I will say that I'm the one who keeps track of everything though. When she last ate/slept/pooped. How much she's eaten for the day (she is very small and we need to get her to eat as much as possible), etc... That sometimes drives me crazy -- I think, we're in this together, why am I the only one who keeps track of all this stuff?

[Anonymous]

nope - not in this house. he will feed the newborn only if i ask amd its usually when im bathing the toddler. mot sure if it matters but im a sahm

[Anonymous]

pp here - sorry for the typo;s (feeding the newborn and typing)

[Anonymous]

of course. he probably does most of it when he's home. And he does all the bathing.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a husband but if I did, he wouldn't last very long if he didn't help. If he is at home, why shouldn't he? If you are a SAHM, all the more reason for him to help when he gets home from work. I would LOVE to be able to go out at night while my husband gives baths, puts kids to bed. In fact, if he was resistant, I would let him see what he needs to do and then just leave and run errands. Then he can't make lame excuses.