5 Things You Need to Know About the Paternal Bond

1. Dad and Mom

The paternal bond is seen as the relationship between a father and a child. Most people agree the maternal bond, the relationship between mother and child, is usually the stronger, with a woman developing the bond even before the birth of her child. Scientists say the production of oxytocin, sometimes called the cuddle hormone, helps to increase maternal bonding. Oxytocin is produced when a new mother begins to make breast milk. But psychologists agree a dad can find many ways to bond with his baby, including carrying the baby, feeding it and cuddling it.

2. Hormonal?

There may be a relationship between progesterone, a hormone elevated in early pregnancy, and paternal bonding. Research suggests that a low level of progesterone can reduce aggression in males and increase their ability to bond with a new baby. But researchers caution there is not enough scientific evidence to validate this.

3. Getting an Early Look

At least one study has looked at the possibility of an ultrasound being a significant factor in paternal bonding. Scientists were exploring the idea that knowing the baby's gender was an important part of paternal bonding. However, the results showed that about 76 percent of the fathers said they had already formed a bond with the baby even before knowing the sex.

4. Early Childhood

Some researchers say the most important bonding happens beyond infancy. A 2004 study in Great Britain found that fathers who bonded with their children by age seven had a chance to make a real difference in their children's lives. The scientists pointed out that these children were more likely to have successful marriages of their own and were also more likely to obtain higher education. Another British study that tracked thousands of children for 40 years found that a strong paternal bond improved academic performance, fostered closer relationships and created better physical health.

5. Mr. Mom

Although there are almost 6 million stay-at-home moms in the United States, there are less than 150,000 dads who stay home. But the number is rising. More and more couples are looking at which parent makes the larger salary, who has a more flexible situation and which parent has the possibility of working from home. In many cases, Dad may be the choice. Men who become stay-at-home dads need to work hard to get involved in a network of friends who share their situation. Many find the virtual world to be a great place to make connections.