DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN INFANT‐CARE TRAINING PROGRAM WITH FIRST‐TIME FATHERS

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of a multicomponent package in training infant‐care skills to first‐time fathers. After developing and socially validating a set of infant‐care skills, we assessed the effects of training in a hospital‐based program with expectant fathers (Experiment 1) and in a home‐based program with fathers having varied degrees of experience with their infants (Experiment 2). In both experiments, a multiple probe design demonstrated that the training package was responsible for producing criterion performance by the expectant and first‐time fathers. A 1‐month generalization probe in Experiment 1 showed that the effects transferred across training conditions (training doll to human infant) and settings (hospital to home). An increase in the number of infant‐stimulation activities performed by fathers was also observed in both experiments.