Dads who do this 1 thing help moms breastfeed longer—and science proves it

Breastfeeding is often seen as a mother’s journey, but new research shows that dads play a major role in whether moms are able to breastfeed successfully—and for how long.

A recent study from Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago found that when fathers take at least two weeks of paternity leave after their child’s birth, their partners are 31% more likely to still be breastfeeding at eight weeks.

This groundbreaking research, published in BMC Public Health, is the first U.S. study to use father-reported data to analyze the link between paternity leave and breastfeeding. The takeaway? Dads aren’t just helpful in the newborn phase—they are crucial to breastfeeding success.

More paternity leave, more breastfeeding success

The study surveyed 240 employed fathers in Georgia and found that:

• Fathers who took at least two weeks of leave were 31% more likely to report their infant being breastfed at eight weeks.
• Among families who started breastfeeding, those where dads took two or more weeks of leave had a 25% higher rate of continued breastfeeding at eight weeks.
• These trends remained even after adjusting for factors like paternal, maternal, and infant characteristics.

Dr. John James Parker, the study’s lead author, explains why dads’ time off makes such a big difference:

“Fathers can support breastfeeding by taking on hands-on baby care—changing diapers, burping, rocking, and feeding expressed milk—while also ensuring mothers get the nutrition, hydration, and rest they need to recover. All these father-supportive activities are easier when fathers have more generous leave.”

The challenges of paternity leave in the U.S.

Despite the benefits, paternity leave in the U.S. remains limited.

• Only 13% of employers offer paid paternity leave to all male employees.
• Most dads who receive paid leave take only one week or less.
• While 13 states and Washington, D.C., have passed paid family leave laws, only nine states have fully implemented them.

The study also highlighted disparities in paid leave access:

• White fathers were more likely to receive paid leave than fathers from other racial and ethnic groups.
• Only half of employed fathers in the survey reported receiving any paid leave at all.

Related: Paternity leave benefits the whole family. So why aren’t dads taking it?

Why are dads left out of the breastfeeding conversation?

Dr. Parker, a pediatrician and father of three, was inspired to study this issue after realizing how absent fathers were from the medical conversation about breastfeeding.

“When I became a father, I realized how absent dads were from the conversation. In medical training, no one talked about involving dads or why that mattered.”

A turning point came when his pediatrician gave him tips on how to support his wife with breastfeeding.

“It made me feel part of the team. Now, I do the same for the dads I work with.”

What needs to change?

This research reinforces the importance of paid paternity leave policies that allow dads to be present and involved in those critical first weeks. Policymakers, employers, and healthcare providers all have a role to play in making sure families get the support they need.

Because when dads step up, moms win. And when moms win, so do babies.

Related: The first Congressman to take paternity leave wants more men to follow his lead

Sources:

1. Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) by State. Investopedia. Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) by State.
2. When dads take leave, moms breastfeed longer. Northwestern university. When dads take leave, moms breastfeed longer.
3. Paid Leave for Fathers: Policy, Practice, and Reform. National Library of Medicine. Paid Leave for Fathers: Policy, Practice, and Reform.