Yes, a regular massage is a great way to help dads and their babies to feel closer. Your partner could make massage part of your baby's bedtime routine.

Dads who massage their babies do tend to have a closer relationship with them. These dads often get more involved in other areas of babycare too, such as bathtime and floor play.

It works both ways. Babies who are massaged by their dads are more connected to their dads. If babies have enjoyed this close physical contact with their dads, they get more excited when they see their dads. They smile, reach for, and call out to their dads more readily than babies who haven't been massaged.

If your partner is reluctant to try massage, it may be because he's never thought of it as something he would do as a dad. He may need time to get used to the idea. Ask your health visitor if there are baby massage classes in your area. There may even be classes just for dads.

As well as learning a new skill, infant massage groups for dads are an opportunity for dads to meet other dads and babies. This is another benefit for men who may be feeling isolated in their new role as a father.

If a group is not an option, perhaps you could ask your health visitor to show your partner how to massage your baby at home. Or you could watch a demonstration online.

However you approach it, it is worth persevering. One study compared the experiences of dads of four-week-old babies who were given brief training in massage with dads who didn't have training.

The dads who had learnt massage techniques were more involved with their babies two months on than the other dads. So it does seem that massage can be a real confidence-booster for both babies and dads.

Another study found that massaging their baby reduced dads’ stress levels and helped them to become more aware of the changes in their growing babies.

Source: Jill Irving