Some fathers have urged Nigerian men to provide practical and emotional support for their wives to ensure successful exclusive breastfeeding and healthier outcomes for children, emphasising that fathers play critical roles throughout the process.
The fathers gave the advice in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week observed globally from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7.
The 2026 campaign, themed “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”, highlights the need for supportive families, workplaces and communities to sustain breastfeeding and improve maternal and child health.
Mr Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, whose three children were exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months, said fathers had critical roles in helping mothers successfully breastfeed their babies and overcome associated challenges.
According to him, breastfeeding places enormous physical and emotional demands on mothers, making the support of husbands indispensable throughout the nursing period to ensure successful breastfeeding and family wellbeing.
“It comes with a lot of stress. There are sleepless nights and the child depends entirely on the mother. It is a very difficult thing, but it is very rewarding,” he said.
He said men could reduce the burden on nursing mothers by providing emotional encouragement, proper nutrition, household assistance and every support needed to help them succeed with breastfeeding.
“Men folk, please support your wife. Give them all the flowers. Try your best to alleviate the challenges and provide the support they need to ensure they succeed,” Emmanuel said.
He also dismissed misconceptions discouraging some men from supporting breastfeeding, insisting that fathers should remain actively involved throughout the nursing period and provide every assistance required.
“You have to support your wife regardless of whether she is breastfeeding or any other thing. Whichever support you can give your wife, ensure she succeeds in doing it,” he said.
Emmanuel said his involvement in caring for his family had enabled him to understand the sacrifices mothers make and appreciate the importance of shared parenting responsibilities in raising children.
Also speaking, Mr Ibrahim Musa, a father of two, said exclusive breastfeeding had contributed significantly to the healthy growth and development of his children while reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
According to Musa, breastfeeding should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of women but as a family commitment requiring patience, encouragement and practical support from fathers.
Similarly, Mr Adewale Johnson, father of a one-year-old girl, said sharing household responsibilities and caring for older children enabled his wife to concentrate fully on breastfeeding.
Johnson urged employers and communities to complement family support by creating breastfeeding-friendly environments that would allow mothers continue breastfeeding successfully after resuming work following maternity leave.
Another father, Mr Samuel Okoro, said sustained encouragement and shared responsibility helped mothers overcome fatigue, anxiety and societal pressures that often interrupted exclusive breastfeeding practices among families.
However, some fathers attributed poor support for breastfeeding to misconceptions, economic pressures and inadequate knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding, calling for greater public education and awareness campaigns.
Mr Hassan Yauri, a father of four, said although he supports breastfeeding, he understands why some men fail to adequately support their wives during the nursing period.
“Some husbands feel that once the baby comes, all the attention shifts to the child and they begin to feel neglected.
“Others believe the breast is only for them and become uncomfortable with prolonged breastfeeding. It is a wrong mindset, but it exists,” he said.
Yauri called for greater education for men, saying better understanding of breastfeeding would encourage husbands to support their wives because supporting mothers ultimately meant supporting their children.
Citing economic pressure and misinformation, Mr Joseph Wemimo, a father of three, said he did not believe many fathers deliberately discouraged their wives from breastfeeding.
“Sometimes fathers become worried when babies cry often or mothers complain of pain and exhaustion.
“Some families also pressure the mother to introduce water or infant formula early because they think breast milk alone is not enough.
“Without proper information, some husbands simply follow that advice,” he said.
Wemimo also advocated greater involvement of fathers during antenatal counselling sessions to improve their understanding of exclusive breastfeeding and encourage stronger support for nursing mothers.
According to him, when men understand the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, they are more likely to encourage their wives rather than asking them to stop.
Health experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding up to two years and beyond.
They say optimal breastfeeding protects infants against infections, promotes healthy growth and brain development, strengthens immunity and contributes to improved maternal and child health outcomes.(NAN)
