Does Millennium Man Have The Maternal Instinct?

In a new survey for Mothercare, researchers from MORI discovered that millennium man is still in the dark ages when it comes to knowing how to care for his newly born offspring and partner.

Just three percent of males correctly answered four basic questions about the time after the birth of a baby.

And such ignorance is bliss for a shameful six percent who confessed they would rather be in the boozer when baby arrives!

Researchers quizzed men aged between 16 and 50 - half of whom were ALREADY fathers.

Only a third knew that a baby gets through at least six nappies a day. And an optimistic six percent hoped to get by with just two daily changes! Worryingly, more than half the Dads questioned either didn't know or guessed their baby's nappy consumption incorrectly, suggesting it's still mum who gets left with the changing chore at home!

Family planning lessons were needed by 54% percent of non-fathers who were either unsure or wrongly thought women CANNOT get pregnant whilst breastfeeding. Fortunately Dads proved more knowledgeable with 70 percent knowing that women CAN still conceive during this time.

Financial advice would also come in useful for most, with only a quarter (24%) realising there is no statutory paternity leave in Britain.

But the Mothercare survey, of 559 men, was far from damning of all Dads.

The overwhelming majority - 78% of men - would want to be at their partner's side in the delivery room, with Dads being most keen to be present for the birth of a child. And 69 percent would expect to resume normal sex within three months of the birth.

Jane Bookham from Mothercare, which commissioned the survey, said: "There are obviously a few gaps in men's knowledge of the time straight after childbirth. But equally, there are plenty of encouraging signs and it's good to see so many men wanting to get involved from the birth! At Mothercare, we generally find that new Dads and Dads-to-be who come into our stores are extremely excited and positive about their new role."

For Mothercare's part, they're introducing new initiatives to help parents-to-be and new parents become better informed about babycare matters. These include setting up special "New Parents Days" in Mothercare World stores in August and October this year, when health professionals and other babycare experts will be on hand to give advice and answer questions. If the days prove popular then they will be continued on a quarterly basis in 2000.

Technical details

MORI conducted the research between 21 - 24 May 1999, carrying out face-to-face interviews. MORI interviewed a representative sample of 559 men between the ages of 16 & 50 years. 51% had fathered a child, 49% had not.