Tara Kilburn

FHS 1500
Unit 2 Essay
Question
OPTION B: MOTHERS AND FATHERS
Except for the birthing process and breast-feeding, do you think that a mother's position
as a caregiver of an infant or child is biologically different from that of a father? Why?
What examples can you provide that support your answer?
Answer
The thought of having the father of my child around through every step of
conceiving to birth, to raising the child the way your culture decides to do is exactly how
it should be. A father plays a very important role when a baby is conceived and born.
Studies have actually shown that Synchrony, attachment, and social referencing are all
apparent with fathers, sometimes even more than with mothers. (Berger, 2014, p. 148).
Children will benefit much more with two parental roles instead of just one, because two
is more beneficial than one. A baby may stay happy for a longer period of time, and may
even have a different kind of love for there father.
A baby fed, bathed, and diapered by Dad is just as happy and clean as when
Mom does it. (Berger, 2014, p. 149). This is an amazing explanation that proves a father
figure is just as important as a mother. Mothers who give birth and breast-feed can make
it easily accessible to the father to be there for them in this period of time as well. What I
mean by this is, while the mother is giving birth to the child, the father can be right next
to her, holding her hand, doing breathing techniques with her, and stand right next to her
when skin-to-skin contact is made. This makes it easier for the father to bond with the
child as well. When it comes to breastfeeding, the best thing for me to recommend to
fathers would be to be right next to mother and child, smoothing the head, relaxing the
face, and cooing. The child sees the father and mother in site, giving a satisfaction and
tenderness from both of them.
Close father-infant relationships can teach infants (especially boys) appropriate
expressions of emotion (Boyce etal., 2006), particularly anger. The results may endure:
Teenagers are less likely to lash out at friends and authorities if, as infants, they
experience a warm, responsive relationship with their father (Trautmann-Villalba et al.,
2006). (Berger, 2014, p.148). This entire paragraph explains how a father can relate to a
male son more than a female daughter, but that does not exclude girls. Men relate to
there sons due to, for one: gender. Two: men like to live up to a certain expectation for
themselves. As I like to say, children like to monkey see monkey do!

Women have a tendency to synchronize with their babies differently than men do.
As a female, I do tend to cuddle, kiss, and give belly rubs while making synchrony. I
have toys and teddy bears, but my son prefers to be thrown up in the air, try the airplane
on his fathers feet up high, and bounce a ball back and forth. These are very creative
ways for a father to influence there kids and to have a bond with there babies just as
much as a mother does.
As you can see, children and their father have a bond that is just as loving and
social as a child and their mothers. I love that men can provide play and happiness when
taking care of there child.
Citations
Berger, K.S. (2014). Invitation to the life span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.