Written by health professionals, DadPad is already up and running in other areas of the UK, and each area has content edited and amended to be bespoke to local needs, including details of nearby support groups and services. The DadPad was created by listening to what dads, their partners and professionals asked for in relation to preparing for fatherhood, what to expect and how to care for their baby. For this reason, the app also provides information on key behavioural changes for dad to look out for in both himself and his partner. There are also details of local support groups for new dads and sources of help available in Solihull. Being rolled out as part of the UK’s Maternity Transformation Programme’s Better Birth’s Strategy, the information and signposting you get will be local to your NHS Trust or relevant Health Authority.

Julia Burrows, Director for Public Health and Communities, said: “It’s brilliant to see the broad range of support available to new parents is continually growing in our borough, supporting families to navigate this new chapter in their lives. The DadPad gives support to new fathers who can often feel left out and unable to help when they’re needed most, and this can put a strain on both parents. We listened to what dads, their partners and professionals asked for and combined it all in this new ‘DadPad’. An exciting new parenting resource is being re-launched across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2016.Whether you are about to become a dad for the first time, or want to ensure that you can still cover all bases with a new addition to your family, the DadPad is the low-cost, high-value resource that you will want to have within arm’s reach at all times. Building a strong attachment will not only enable dads to better enjoy their new role but also contribute towards positive long-term social, health and educational outcomes for their babies.

All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours.By building confidence, helping dads engage with their baby’s development and be a supportive co-parent the DadPad can help children and families across the city. The Cornish and Scillonian themed ‘Dad Pad’ recognises the important role dads play in bringing up their children and supporting mum. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has worked with the NHS Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust and DadPad to launch the easy-to-use, freely downloadable resource for new dads and dads-to-be. The DadPad was created because babies don’t come with a set of instructions, and dads told us they wanted important information on what to expect and how to care for their baby. Your local maternity services have partnered up with DadPad to provide free access to the tailored app for Dads in Kent and Medway.

This 36 pages long guide is incredibly practical, with wipe-clean pages full of easy-to-use, supportive advice. There are also details of local support groups for new dads and sources of help available in Kent and Medway. If your area doesn’t have a button, let us know and we’ll make contact with those who can make it happen! Once the app is installed, enter your postcode when prompted and select your local area or hospital.

Building a strong attachment enables dads to better enjoy their new role and contributes towards positive long-term social, health and educational outcomes for their babies.

When dads across Cornwall were asked what would help them in their new role as a father, they asked for a ‘Dad Pad’. As babies don’t come with a set of instructions, they told us they wanted important information on how to care for their baby and what to expect as a first-time dad. The app also provides Dads with guidance on how to support and seek help (when needed) for their partners and themselves as they adjust to their new roles and cope with the physical and emotional strains that this can place on individuals and relationships. It is designed to reduce your anxieties, create a strong bond and healthy attachment with your baby, build stronger family relationships and recognise when you or your partner might need to get help for your mental health. The DadPad is best utilised as early as possible during pregnancy, around birth and beyond, and provides guidance for babies and children up to the age of two.

The DadPad® - An essential guide for new dads, supporting new families in working together for their babies. We strongly recommend taking appropriate action to ensure your safety when engaging with any of the organisations, groups, events or services listed. To help understand how people use our site we use statistical cookies, as well as one cookie to make the site work properly and one cookie which remembers your choices if you accept cookies.