Novelty wears off quickly for first-time fathers

THE arrival of the firstborn brings out the best in doting dads but enthusiasm wanes thereafter, according to a new survey.

The research, by private health insurers Vivas Health, found more than four in five first-time fathers accompany mum to her pre-natal classes but this attendance rate halves if his partner is not a first-time mum. The novelty of nappy-changing also wears off with each respective child: 82% of first-time dads assisted with the nappy-changing, falling to 65% of dads with more than one child.

According to the women surveyed, just three in 10 dads-to-be took charge of the housework during their pregnancy, although eight in 10 men helped out before and after the baby was born.