My baby is exclusively breastfed and while I'm happy she's doing great, I feel like I don't have a role sometimes. Wife is doing all the feeding, I'm changing diapers and doing laundry. I know that's important but it doesn't feel the same. Anyone have tips for bonding when you're not the one feeding? Wondering if I should push to introduce a bottle so I can feed her sometimes.
Man, I felt this hard when my son was born. Bottle feeding was my lifeline - started pumping milk so I could do night feeds and actually feel like I was contributing. Night shift parenting became my thing. You'll find your role, it just takes a minute.
You're not useless at all. I do literally everything else - diaper changes, baths, soothing, laundry, all of it. Those moments matter just as much. The breastfeeding is temporary but your presence is forever.
This phase passes faster than you think. Focus on being her person for everything else. I became the bath guy, the sleep routine guy. Gave me my own special bond with my daughter that mom didn't have.
I felt the exact same way the first couple months. But then I realized I was doing literally everything else - laundry, cooking, keeping the house running, night shifts when baby wasn't feeding. You're contributing way more than you think.
Early days are weird that way but you're the glue that holds everything together right now. Your job is supporting her so she can feed the baby. That's not useless, that's essential.
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You're not useless at all dude. You're the sleep shift guy, the diaper backup, the person who can hold the baby so mom gets a shower. That matters. Pump bottles if you're not already so you can take a feeding sometimes.
The breastfeeding phase is temporary. Pretty soon you'll be doing bottle feedings and solid foods and you'll have plenty of ways to take ownership. Just be patient with the process.