A paediatrician has come up with a unique way to solve the common problem of sibling rivalry. Dr Daniel Golshevsky (aka Dr Golly) says dads should swap roles with mum once baby number two comes along, with dads looking after the newborn almost entirely.
Dr Golly is known as the ‘parent-whisperer’ for his unique baby settling techniques, but he’s not only a sleep expert. Dr Golly said: "One of the most common remarks following the birth of a second child is the behavioural deterioration that occurs in the older child – when the new addition reaches three months of age.
"Combined with the sleep deprivation of the newborn phase, parents can find themselves with little tether, quick to anger and struggling to juggle the rapid familial expansion. In short, they become cross parents. But if parents swap parental roles almost entirely, it’s dad who takes care of the newborn while the mother manages the toddler.
"With a breast-fed baby, the singular act that a father cannot do is breastfeed this child, but everything else is not only possible – it’s actually preferable. Have dad perform all the baby duties, from winding to changing, and settling to bathing.
"Mum is now free to rest, replenish milk if breastfeeding, recover from the pregnancy/birth and importantly – spend consistent, frequent, quality time with her toddler – making them feel that they remain the very centre of their mother’s universe. This does not in any way dent the mother-baby bond, nor does it diminish the father-toddler connection.
"It also brings parents closer, with more collaboration and communication within the family unit, and reducing maternal and paternal postnatal depression. Studies have shown dads’ brains actually change when they care for their newborns, so this Father’s Day, I’d urge all dads to give cross-parenting a chance. You’ll never regret it."
Dr Golshevsky is a Melbourne-based paediatrician, who, with a team of experts, has developed the Dr Golly Sleep Program, an online sleep and settling course to help get children (birth to five years) sleeping in a routine that works for families.
If you’d like to see Dr. Golly in action, check out the Dr. Golly Philosophy, or take a look at him on ABC News and The Morning Show.
