To follow on from Anne's post, and the strand that followed:
I talk to parents about skin-to-skin and the oxytocin peak during
skin-to-skin, and get fathers and mothers to look at just how much (or
little!) skin is in contact when fathers bottle-feed babies.  Just a tiny
patch of skin on the father's wrist and a tiny patch of skin on the back of
the baby's neck - if s/he is not wearing a baby suit with a collar.  How
much skin-to-skin is that?  Then I demonstrate, with a doll, how wearing a
baby inside the shirt provides more skin-to-skin and keeps the baby warm.
They are sold! They can see that the idea that Dads must bottle-feed in
order to bond is ridiculous.
I also talk about the special looks Dads usually get on their faces during
skin-to-skin with their babies. This then leaves an opening to discuss with
them the various other activities they can do with their babies, and model
them with a doll.  Being "en face" with their baby (face to face, gazing
into each other's eyes), nodding or poking out the tongue, interactive
stuff, as well as bathing or showering and all the rest.
Virginia
Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA 
Brisbane, Qld, Australia 
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