During the transition to parenthood, fathers may experience significant challenges, including finding a place for themselves as important participants in the context of infant breastfeeding by female partners. Although generally viewed as a healthy process and the preferred method of infant feeding, breastfeeding may result in some fathers feeling excluded, inadequate, and helpless. Breastfeeding is known to adversely affect various aspects of a father's life, including parenting self-efficacy, quality of life (QOL), the relationship with the partner, and the perception that breastfeeding limits time available for father-infant bonding. The current scoping review explores the experiences, roles, and needs of fathers of breastfed infants by synthesizing and discussing the findings from relevant published research studies ( n = 18). Recommendations, drawn from the scoping review findings, are offered to guide primary health providers and services.
Keywords: breastfeeding; fathering; infant feeding; men’s health; parenting; paternal experience.