Dear Maureen

You bet I encourage dads as well as moms to get in the water with their
baby.
An assignment given during the pregnancy to cb class members is for the
partners to get "mushie" & sensual with each other (everything good
feeling but excluding penatration)at least 3 times a week.  Lots of
touching to find each others good places.  No only do the moms usually
LOVE this, but it helps dads to get in touch with feeling good sensually
rather than always needing the penatration)

We also talk about fathers feeling jealous, left out, inefficient, etc.
and about the difference in male and female thoughts and actions, how
easy it is to expect your male partner to react to a baby the way you
would.

I personally find feeding a baby a bottle pretty boring stuff.  No
wonder abm babies are propped or encouraged to hold their own bottles
early.  And, I think, dads feel the same way plus the fact that most
dads do not find abm burps (pukie-sickie smells & texture) much fun.  I
think moms just grasp at dad feeding the baby as a way of making the dad
help with the child. (I know, I know, personal opinion here)

When  dads realized how very important and vital their role is to the
baby (and to his wife andl over) and have tools and skills in place to
use, they seem more eager to interact with  the babe.

Warm, deep water is a great place to enjoy yourself, each other and
develop dad/baby bonds.

Thanks for letting me comment.

BTW, my father & mother-in-law worked in NS for a few months while the
local Episcopal priest was on sabbatical., Linda