Dad’s Survival Guide To Raising Daughters From Infancy To Adolescence

The idea of being a dad raising daughters can be overwhelming for some.

Many dads feel naturally comfortable with the idea of their sons, but aren’t quite sure how to approach parenting a daughter.

We want to take this conversation a step further, by exploring the unique relationships that dads and daughters have from infancy to adolescence.

Baby Daughters

The early stages of your daughter’s infancy are often the most challenging for dads. While mums feel connected to their children as they carry and birth them, dads are left playing catch up trying to bond. Dads don’t always realise how important the infant years are to building a strong father-daughter bond, and what dads can do to ensure that bond is cemented in the early days of their daughter’s lives. Here are some ways you can do this:

1. Bring Calm

When your baby girl cries, don’t just step aside and let mum take over. She’s tired anyway, and wants you to step up. Instead, make a point to calm your daughter by letting her know you’re there. If you aren’t wanting to pick her up, for any reason, just talk or hum to her. She’ll begin to recognise your deeper voice as one that calms.

2. Change Happily

Be involved in nappy changing, instead of being apprehensive about whether you’ll do it right. Everyone learns along the way. Make it something fun if you can, talking and singing to make her see nappy changes as a game instead of a trial.

3. Be A Safe Place

Holding your daughter close to you, and fostering a physical connection, is so important at this age. Mum is such a big part of her life, but you’re a safe place too, and she should learn that now.

4. Talk To Her

From the moment your daughter starts to have a conversation with her, using whatever noises she has available, talk back. Either mimic her, but in your deeper voice, or simply talk to her. Congratulations, you’re having a conversation with your daughter.

Next Page: More Tips for A Dad Raising Daughters