Dads, new babies and jealousy
Go to:
See the next story in this category | Go to previous story | Send to a friend!
Armin Brott
Every dad needs support, encouragement, information, confidence and tools to help him be as involved as he possibly can with his new family. Our fatherhood expert, Armin Brott, author of The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be and Father for Life: A Journey of Joy, Challenge, and Change , has advice for your growing family!
  |
I used to be the center of my wife's universe. Now that we've had a baby, I'm jealous, of all the time they spend together and I feel left out. Is this normal and how can I overcome my feelings?
Armin Brott answers:
First of all, it's completely normal to be jealous of your wife's relationship with your new baby -- especially if she's breastfeeding. But who's really making you jealous? Your wife because of her close relationship with the baby and all that extra time they spend with each other? Or is it really the baby for coming between you and your wife, for taking up more than his "fair share" of her attention, and for having full access to her breasts when they may be too tender for you to touch? Probably both.
If you're going to get over your feelings of jealousy, you need to start by coming clean to your wife. Whether you're feeling that you need more attention and emotional support from her or more private time without the baby, tell your wife about it as clearly and honestly as possible.
This may not be easy: You may not want to bother her with your problems right now. After all, she's just had a baby and you, as a man, are supposed to be supportive, right? You may be afraid that she'll think you're wimpy, or you may already be thinking that yourself. Whatever it is holding you back, it's essential that you get over it. Soon.
The worst -- and most dangerous -- thing you can do with your feeling of jealousy is to bury it. Left unsaid, it'll make you resentful of both your wife and your baby and could ultimately damage your whole experience of fatherhood.
But important as talking is, it isn't enough. You'll also need to get some extra time with your baby -- especially doing things that involve skin-to-skin contact such bathing, cuddling, playing, putting him to bed and changing diapers. You can also do some bottle feeding if your wife is willing to express breast milk or if she's using formula.
These activities and others, such as taking the baby along when you go grocery shopping, or even dropping him into a frontpack and heading out for a walk, will help you bond and build your own solid relationship with your child, independent of your wife. And once you've done that, there won't be anything left to be jealous of.
More for you!
Send this page to a friend!
More baby features at Pregnancy & Baby
Come visit our message boards
Editor's pick: The No-Cry Sleep Solution
About the author: 
Hailed by Time Magazine as "the superdad's superdad," Armin Brott has written or co-written six critically acclaimed, groundbreaking books on fatherhood. His articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, American Baby, Parenting, Child, Men's Health, The Washington Post and dozens of other major publications. Armin has been a guest on hundreds of radio and television shows, including Today, CBS Overnight, Fox News, and Politically Incorrect, and his work on fatherhood has been featured in such places as Glamour, Time, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Newsday, and many others. He's also the host of "Positive Parenting," a weekly radio program which airs live in the San Francisco Bay Area and is also available on the Web. A father of three, he lives in Oakland, California. You can contact him at Armin@MrDad.com and read more articles here!
For more from Armin Brott, click here.
