You know he loves you and your little one, but some husbands are a little hesitant to really get into baby care trenches. They may not have any experience with babies or children. Unfortunately little boys are still not given as many opportunities to take care of dolls or practice nurturing. Luckily, most fathers today expect to be involved with their families and are open to sharing responsibilities with their wives. The following is a list of some ideas for getting him involved.

1. Start early. While you are still expecting or going through adoption process, talk about how you want to parent your child. Involve him in prenatal doctor visits, reading books, even television shows such as “A Baby Story” will help both of you know what to expect and get conversation moving. Take baby care classes before your baby comes home. You will learn a lot and meet other expecting parents as well. Even if you are one who is pregnant, you are both expecting!

2. Do it together. If neither of you has any experience, it can be reassuring to do things as a team. Never given your baby a bath? You’ll definitely need two people for this little adventure. Talk to each other before, during and after to exchange ideas and learn from experience. The more comfortable your husband becomes with baby care, more ready he will be to take them on himself.

3. Don’t hover. It is hard to try new things in front of others. Imagine if you were told to draw a picture of your baby while an experienced artist watched. Yes, she may be able to help you along, but it would be a nerve-racking experience! Unless it is a safety issue, let him try his own way of doing things. If it is a safety issue, explain why it is important. For example, “The baby book I read said to always strap your baby onto changing table so she won’t roll off. Do you agree that we should do that?”