Decisions around infant feeding are often made as a family. However, the bulk of research on impacting factors focus on the breastfeeding mother’s experience and outcomes. In this post we explore the research that has focused on the partners role in infant feeding, including their experiences. Unfortunately, there is little mention of same sex couples in the literature we have explored therefore the language used when referring to studies is mainly in reference to fathers.
Partners parental leave
Multiple research studies have found positive associations between paternity leave length and breastfeeding duration. These findings suggest that having a partner around improves the chances that breastfeeding will continue for longer. This is likely thanks to the increased physical, emotional and social support partners can offer.
Partners education
One study completed in Pennsylvania identified a specific and significant factor that impacts breastfeeding initiation and duration. This factor was paternal education level. They found, via regression analysis, that the higher the level of education of the father the more likely a mother was to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Interestingly, this remained independently significant even when accounting for maternal education and other factors such as attending antenatal breastfeeding classes.
Interventions focused on partners
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis looked into the impact of interventions directed towards fathers on breastfeeding rates. They found that in general these interventions were associated with higher exclusive breastfeeding rates in the early months. This review included studies from China, Australia, Canada and the UK and concluded that paternal support interventions can have a positive impact on breastfeeding rates.
Another systematic review on this topic found similar associations, where breastfeeding rates were positively associated with paternal involvement in breastfeeding education interventions.
Partners attitudes to breastfeeding
Partners having a positive attitude to breastfeeding and being supportive of this feeding choice has been shown to significantly increase the likelihood of breastfeeding in multiple research studies. One study completed in Perth concluded that emotional, practical and physical support from partners were deemed important factors in supporting breastfeeding by mothers.
Partners experiences
Research has explored fathers’ experiences with infant feeding. Partners report contrasting feelings relating to how different feeding practices influence their relationship with their babies. Despite most fathers being encouraging of breastfeeding, some report feeling left out of the breastfeeding dynamic and helpless in supporting their partner. One study identified this issue specifically by reporting that fathers want more education to be directed towards them so that they can receive helpful information that can assist them in practically supporting their partner.
References
Atkinson, L., Silverio, S. A., Bick, D., & Fallon, V. (2021). Relationships between paternal attitudes, paternal involvement, and infant-feeding outcomes: Mixed-methods findings from a global on-line survey of English-speaking fathers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(S1), e13147. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13147
Brown, A., & Davies, R. (2014). Fathers’ experiences of supporting breastfeeding: challenges for breastfeeding promotion and education. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 10(4), 510-526. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12129
Flacking, R., Dykes, F., & Ewald, U. (2010). The influence of fathers’ socioeconomic status and paternity leave on breastfeeding duration: A population-based cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 38(4), 337-343. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810362002
Hackman, N. M., Sznajder, K. K., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2022). Paternal Education and Its Impact on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Understudied and Often Overlooked Factor in U.S. Breastfeeding Practices. Breastfeeding Medicine, 17(5), 429-436. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2021.0338
Hosking, T., Cassidy, S., & Louie, J. C. Y. (2025). Impact of Paternal Breastfeeding Interventions on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates and Attitudes of Fathers Towards Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review. Current Nutrition Reports, 14(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-024-00603-2
Parker, J. J., Simon, C. D., & Garfield, C. F. (2025). Fathers’ work leave and infant breastfeeding in a state-representative sample of fathers in Georgia, United States. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 767. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22013-x
Tohotoa, J., Maycock, B., Hauck, Y. L., Howat, P., Burns, S., & Binns, C. W. (2009). Dads make a difference: an exploratory study of paternal support for breastfeeding in Perth, Western Australia. International Breastfeeding Journal, 4(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-4-15
Van Egdom, D., Piszczek, M. M., Wen, X., Zhang, J., Granillo-Velasquez, K. E., & Spitzmueller, C. (2024). I don’t want to leave my child: How mothers and fathers affect mother’s breastfeeding duration and leave length. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 97(1), 301-320. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12472
Zhou, S.-s., Lu, J., Qin, A., Wang, Y., Gao, W., Li, H., & Rao, L. (2024). The role of paternal support in breastfeeding outcomes: a meta-analytic review. International Breastfeeding Journal, 19(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-024-00694-1
