The Father‐Infant Relationship: Becoming Connected

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Abstract
To explore fathers' experiences of developing a relationship with their infants during the infant's first 2 months of life Grounded theory approach Fathers' homes or other mutually agreed-upon site First-time fathers (N = 14), ages 28-44, Caucasian, middle class Tape-recorded semistructured interviews to elicit fathers' perceptions of their fathering selves, their infants, and the father-infant relationship. Using constant comparative method for analysis, three major categories were identified as operative in the initial development of the father-infant relationship: (a) making a commitment, (b) becoming connected, and (c) making room for the baby With an increased understanding of the father-infant relationship, nurses can provide humanistic, thoughtful care to assist fathers in developing this significant relationship.