In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad discuss and important 50/50 parenting issue, holding an infant. Will mom tolerate dad demanding his fair share of baby holding? If dads can manage to get themselves named Official Baby Wearer, then they stand a fighting chance. Along with discussion, the dads demonstrate a great baby carrier that is perfect for fathers of a newborn baby. Watch and see how easy it is to use this baby sling with your babies. DadLabs ep 493 is brought to you by BabyBjorn.

DADDY BRAD: Let’s say the ideal is a 50/50 parenting split, when it comes to raising kids and running the house.

DADDY CLAY: The question is: could that ever work when it comes to time spent holding the baby?

DADDY BRAD: Today’s show is brought to you by the makers of the most Dad friendly baby carriers on the market, Baby Bjorn.

DADDY CLAY: Now this may already be less of the case, but when I was expecting my first.

DADDY BRAD: Back in the 70s.

DADDY CLAY: Ten years ago, I had some anxiety about holding babies.

DADDY BRAD: Really.

DADDY CLAY: The minute a couple with a baby found out we were pregnant, they wanted to hand me the baby. Which made me nuts.

DADDY BRAD: Which is totally insane, because when you have your own baby, you realize, you got to hold that baby. As much as you possibly can. Because this is when you bond with the child. You should hold the baby as much as she does!

DADDY CLAY: But here is the irony. She will never object if you demand to fold as much laundry as she does, but ask to split the snuggling time, and be prepared for some push back.

DADDY BRAD: So we want our time holding the baby, we want our time to bond and enjoy being with the newborn. How to we do that without bringing out Momma Bear?

DADDY CLAY: Here’s my idea. Get yourself established as the official Family Baby Wearer, and you’re golden. And the cool thing here is you can completely use old gender stereotypes to completely subvert them.

DADDY BRAD: Honey, I’m strong and burly, allow me to nurture the baby by carrying him close to my person.

DADDY CLAY: Exactly, or couch it as chivalry. Please, honey, allow me. Your back. You did enough in labor. My turn.

DADDY BRAD: The there’s your subterfuge. Baby Bjorn Baby carriers are extremely easy to adjust and to get babies into, but your wife does not need to know this.

DADDY CLAY: Tell her that it’s really hard to adjust.

INSTRUCTOR: Just tighten these up a little bit until it feels good.

DADDY CLAY: And that it’s hard to get the baby into.

INSTRUCTOR: Bring this under the arm and clip it.

DADDY CLAY: And that you lost the instructions, and they’re not printed right here on the inside of the carrier… so it’s just easier for you to wear the baby.

DADDY BRAD: In addition to the bonding opportunities, there are lots of good reasons to keep your baby close to you.

AVROY FANAROFF, MD: It makes the babies calmer. It enhances the brain growth. It makes the mother and father feel good and all around we encourage it.

DADDY BRAD: So, moms and dads, do you share the baby holding time 50/50? If so, how did you manage that? If not, why not?

DADDY CLAY: Thanks to our sponsors, BabyBjorn. Nothing’s going to bring you closer to your baby. BabyBjorn. See you next time, here in the lab.