crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Photos: Dads in the delivery room, an early start to a healthy childhood

Sunday was observed around the world as Father’s Day. The occasion lends itself to appreciating the role fathers play in their families and as parents, but also an area of their children’s lives where they aren’t always highlighted –newborn care. UNICEF with its #BaapWaliBaat and #EarlyMomentsMatter initiative highlights this key role driven by the father-child bond especially in the first 1,000 days if the child’s lives. It finds that a strong bond during this period is just as important to a healthy early childhood as a mother’s presence.

Updated on: Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/10

35-year-old Rajasekaran, a state level boxer, holds his newly born child outside the labour room at the Government General Hospital in Chrompet, Chennai on June 12, 2018. While most research on parenting focusses on mothers or extended families and the health and growth of newborns, research increasing points to a critical role for fathers in a child’s early development. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

35-year-old Rajasekaran, a state level boxer, holds his newly born child outside the labour room at the Government General Hospital in Chrompet, Chennai on June 12, 2018. While most research on parenting focusses on mothers or extended families and the health and growth of newborns, research increasing points to a critical role for fathers in a child’s early development. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

2/10

A newly born child, just three hours old, and his father, 28-year-old N Jyothi meet each other for the first time in their lives at the Post Natal Ward of the Nandivaram Primary Health Care Centre, Chennai on June 12, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

A newly born child, just three hours old, and his father, 28-year-old N Jyothi meet each other for the first time in their lives at the Post Natal Ward of the Nandivaram Primary Health Care Centre, Chennai on June 12, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

3/10

A look of joy breaks on to 28-year-old Senthil Kumar’s face as he interacts with his two day old child at the Government General Hospital in Chrompet, Chennai on June 12, 2018. Heading into delivery rooms and care facilities for newborns, this series of images from UNICEF highlights the importance of early father-child bonding. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

A look of joy breaks on to 28-year-old Senthil Kumar’s face as he interacts with his two day old child at the Government General Hospital in Chrompet, Chennai on June 12, 2018. Heading into delivery rooms and care facilities for newborns, this series of images from UNICEF highlights the importance of early father-child bonding. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

4/10

27-year-old Rajkamal described it as “a great feeling,” as he took his three day old child into his arms for the first time, from his wife Kalairasa at the Post Natal Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

27-year-old Rajkamal described it as “a great feeling,” as he took his three day old child into his arms for the first time, from his wife Kalairasa at the Post Natal Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

5/10

38-year-old R Sudhan provides Kangaroo Care to his thirty-six days old child in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit of Cloud Nine Maternity Hospital, in Chennai. “Evidence suggests that when fathers bond with their babies from the beginning of life, they are more likely to play a more active role in their child’s development,” UNICEF explains in a statement. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

38-year-old R Sudhan provides Kangaroo Care to his thirty-six days old child in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit of Cloud Nine Maternity Hospital, in Chennai. “Evidence suggests that when fathers bond with their babies from the beginning of life, they are more likely to play a more active role in their child’s development,” UNICEF explains in a statement. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

6/10

34-year-old Senthil Kumar cradles his three day old child from his wife Manimehalai’s care for the first time at the Post Natal Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. This series, also captured globally, seeks also to address a need for parental leave and its comparative lack. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

34-year-old Senthil Kumar cradles his three day old child from his wife Manimehalai’s care for the first time at the Post Natal Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. This series, also captured globally, seeks also to address a need for parental leave and its comparative lack. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

7/10

Chellamutthu cups his newborn’s hand into his own during visiting hours at the Step Down Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. UNICEF urges that governments implement national family-friendly policies that allow both parents adequate time and resources to devote to their children. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

Chellamutthu cups his newborn’s hand into his own during visiting hours at the Step Down Ward of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. UNICEF urges that governments implement national family-friendly policies that allow both parents adequate time and resources to devote to their children. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

8/10

Srinivasan looks over his four-day-old child on an incubator at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

Srinivasan looks over his four-day-old child on an incubator at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Institute Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology And Govt. Hospital For Women And Children, in Egmore, Chennai on June 11, 2018. (Prashanth Vishwanathan / UNICEF)

9/10

A newborn baby girl is seen in Uttar Pradesh on June 12, 2018. “Research also suggests that when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term.” UNICEF says. (Ritu Bhardwaj / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

A newborn baby girl is seen in Uttar Pradesh on June 12, 2018. “Research also suggests that when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term.” UNICEF says. (Ritu Bhardwaj / UNICEF)

10/10

Traditionally, the role of fathers in newborn care has been underrated. While in most cases grandmothers lead in bringing their newly born kids home, Sanjeev made sure that his wife and newly born daughter had his back, celebrating UNICEF’s #BaapWaliBaat and #EarlyMomentsMatter initiative. (Ritu Bhardwaj / UNICEF)

Updated on Jun 18, 2018 11:02 AM

Traditionally, the role of fathers in newborn care has been underrated. While in most cases grandmothers lead in bringing their newly born kids home, Sanjeev made sure that his wife and newly born daughter had his back, celebrating UNICEF’s #BaapWaliBaat and #EarlyMomentsMatter initiative. (Ritu Bhardwaj / UNICEF)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Photos: Dads In The Delivery Room, An Early Start To A Healthy Childhood

© 2026 HindustanTimes