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Newborn babies are so dependent on their moms in so many ways but that doesn't mean

dad is on the sideline. A dad plays a crucial role even in the first few months of a baby's life.

I'm John Fuller joined by Danny Huerta.

He's the head of our parenting and youth department here at Focus of the Family.

And Danny, we don't talk much about newborns.

But it's really important for dad not to disengage when a baby comes along, right?

Oh yes, be super engaged dads. There's so much there. You develop attachment that is it's that glue that helps you along the way to build off of that relationship that you start.

What has been found through research is that moms begin to have a release of oxytocin when the child is in the womb and the child has a response to that.

For dads...

So there's a bonding that takes place even before birth.

Within the womb.

Yeah, I mean it's amazing.

Dads don't have that and it requires your time and connectedness, those early days in a child's life for your

oxytocin to be released and your attachment to come towards the child and

for the child's oxytocin to be released and attached to you.

And so it's transforming to you as a dad in it.

It actually has been shown that it makes dads more cooperative

in their home because it reduces testosterone as oxytocin is released and it makes

you more sensitive to your child.

It makes you more connected and attuned to what your child's needs are, including if you hear their cry, you'll be able to distinguish

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