PARENTING

Dad’s Survival Guide To Raising Daughters From Infancy To Adolescence

5 min read

The idea of being a dad raising daughters can be overwhelming for some.

Many dads feel naturally comfortable with the idea of their sons, but aren’t quite sure how to approach parenting a daughter.

We want to take this conversation a step further, by exploring the unique relationships that dads and daughters have from infancy to adolescence.

Baby Daughters

The early stages of your daughter’s infancy are often the most challenging for dads. While mums feel connected to their children as they carry and birth them, dads are left playing catch up trying to bond. Dads don’t always realise how important the infant years are to building a strong father-daughter bond, and what dads can do to ensure that bond is cemented in the early days of their daughter’s lives. Here are some ways you can do this:

Dad's Survival Guide To Raising Daughters From Infancy To Adolescence

1. Bring Calm

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When your baby girl cries, don’t just step aside and let mum take over. She’s tired anyway, and wants you to step up. Instead, make a point to calm your daughter by letting her know you’re there. If you aren’t wanting to pick her up, for any reason, just talk or hum to her. She’ll begin to recognise your deeper voice as one that calms.

2. Change Happily

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Be involved in nappy changing, instead of being apprehensive about whether you’ll do it right. Everyone learns along the way. Make it something fun if you can, talking and singing to make her see nappy changes as a game instead of a trial.

3. Be A Safe Place

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Holding your daughter close to you, and fostering a physical connection, is so important at this age. Mum is such a big part of her life, but you’re a safe place too, and she should learn that now.

4. Talk To Her

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From the moment your daughter starts to have a conversation with her, using whatever noises she has available, talk back. Either mimic her, but in your deeper voice, or simply talk to her. Congratulations, you’re having a conversation with your daughter.

Next Page: More Tips for A Dad Raising Daughters

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About Author

Oceana Setaysha

Senior Writer A passionate writer since her early school days, Oceana has graduated from writing nonsense stories to crafting engaging content for...Read Morean online audience. She enjoys the flexibility to write about topics from lifestyle, to travel, to family. Although not currently fulfilling the job of parent, her eight nieces and nephews keep her, and her reluctant partner, practiced and on their toes. Oceana holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Writing and Indonesian, and has used her interest in languages to create a career online. She's also the resident blonde at BarefootBeachBlonde.com, where she shares her, slightly dented, wisdom on photography, relationships, travel, and the quirks of a creative lifestyle. Read Less

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