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How to handle newborns crying to changing their dirty diapers is part of recruits' basic training
By Cheryl Powell
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Sunday, Jun 21, 2009
Joining the ranks of fatherhood isn't always easy.
Thoughts of sleep-deprived nights, inconsolable newborn cries and loaded diapers are enough to scare even the toughest of recruits.
So expectant dad Dave Warner opted to enlist in the Boot Camp for New Dads for a little hands-on training and fatherly advice from some old pros.
On the eve of Father's Day, Warner and five other soon-to-be dads gathered Saturday at Akron General Health & Wellness-North in Stow to prepare for fatherhood duty.
The rookie dads received baby basic training from three ''veterans'' who brought along their babies for real-life instruction.
''My concern is knowing what to do when the time comes when the baby does nothing but cry,'' said Warner, 29, of Clinton. His bundle of joy is due in about five weeks.
Dan Filler, 38, of Akron knows those worries all too well. Just a few months ago, he was sitting in boot camp as a newbie.
But this time around, he was one of the experienced dads, ready to show the others the ropes.
''Instincts take over, and you just do what feels right in your gut,'' Filler told the expectant dads as he rocked his 2-month-old son, Zachary.
Akron General has been offering the boot camp for a decade.
The national nonprofit program, established on Father's Day 1990 in Irvine, Calif., now is offered at more than 250 locations in 43 states.
More than 200,000 men from across the country have participated in the boot camp, which is available at hospitals, community centers, clinics, churches and temples, as well as through the U.S. Armed Forces.
Gordon Swaino, a 48-year-old father of two from Barberton, has been a coach for Akron General's boot camps for about nine years.
Swaino said he likes the ''man-to-man concept'' of the guys-only class.
''The wives and significant others are not there, looking over the shoulders and telling them what to say,'' he said.
During the three-hour session, the six fathers-to-be got tips on everything from communicating with their partners and dealing with in-laws to comforting a colicky newborn and searching for day care.
And, of course, the dreaded diaper changes were covered, too, thanks to the three babies in attendance, who were more than willing to produce the needed visual aids.
The expectant fathers gathered around the babies in ''the Pit,'' a large, white sheet set up in the middle of the classroom.
''How many times have you been peed on?'' Paul Barkoukis, 34, of Green asked as Filler changed Zachary's diaper.
Never, Filler responded, adding that others in his family had not been as lucky.
Soon-to-be-dad Warner also jumped in when duty called, taking his turn changing the diaper of Henry, the 4-month-old son of Dave Merrick, 36, of Akron.
''Is this the top?'' Warner asked as he inspected the diaper.
''At 2-o'clock in the morning, you are going to put it on backwards,'' Merrick responded with a knowing laugh.
He shared another important warning all new parents need to know: ''There will be blowouts.''
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Joining the ranks of fatherhood isn't always easy.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Lorain, oh
Posted 09:14 AM, 06/21/2009
great program...
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:17 AM, 06/21/2009
At the time my son in laws two smallest children were 4 months and 16 months (he was already an experienced father as he had 4 and 5 year old boys, he was working two full time jobs from mid to 7 am and 7:30 to 4 pm. It had been a couple of days since he had any sleep and he was changing the baby. He put the size 5 diaper, which belonged to the 16 month baby on the 4 month baby and he never realized it. My daughter discovered it when she went to change the baby the next time. We teased him for a long time.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:19 PM, 06/21/2009
To my son-in-law, Happy Fathers Day. You are a hardworking, strong black man, a wonderful father and a loving and supportive husband. You show your son’s how to be men and you are an example to your daughter and she will know how a man should treat a woman. Although you never took this class, you are the best father to your children. I am blessed that my daughter has a wonderful father and she learned by example from him and was able to select a likeminded man. Son, don’t ever let society dictate who you are. You are your own man. You know who you are and you know who you belong to. Continue to love and take care of your family.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:25 PM, 06/21/2009
YOU KNOW IT: FIGURES WHEN PEOPLE GROUP ALL PEOPLE IN ONE CATAGORY. THAT'S WHAT NARROW MINDED BIGOTS TEND TO DO. JUST BECAUSE YOU TAKE THIS CLASS DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL BE A GOOD FATHER. AND BECAUSE YOU DONT TAKE THIS CLASS ALSO DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WONT BE A GOOD FATER. IT SEEMS YOUR RACE HAS THE HABIT OF KILLING THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS. THE POST FROM DADDYSGIRL WAS ALSO MY POST. MAYBE THE BLACK MEN WHO DONT TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS LEARNED FROM MASA WHILE THEY WERE IN THE COTTON FIELDS SLAVING AWAY.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:48 PM, 06/21/2009
.....and your race has the habit of robbing or killing anyone at gunpoint for crack money.....or killing anyone for something of value that they refuse to work for.....and Masa (m-a-s-s-a)? Your own race sold you out to the slave traders.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:56 PM, 06/21/2009
They sure had good examples in the KKK....HHHHMMMM
akron, oh
Posted 01:13 AM, 06/22/2009
Daddy girls: both of you are right-pretty funny about the big giant diaper on his rear, bet that baby looked pretty silly. And Yes Daddy-nice of you to give a shout out to your son in law. Alot of people don't say thanks enough. It sounds like both of you have good fathers involved in your lives. I know I miss my today-he was a good day too.
akron, oh
Posted 01:15 AM, 06/22/2009
Sorry should have read: "I know I miss mine today-he was a good DAD too". Got a little emo there oops!
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:03 AM, 06/22/2009
They had better examples with the Black Panthers.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:51 AM, 06/22/2009
Thanks olfuzzster: I know your Dad lives on in your heart.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:21 AM, 06/22/2009
It was against this backdrop that Huey P. Newton was organizing the Black Panther Party for self-defense, boldly calling for a complete end to all forms of oppression of blacks and offering revolution as an option.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:03 AM, 06/22/2009
This is in continued response to YOUKNOWIT whose post seems to have been removed. He brought up the fact there were no black men in the class and how they don’t step up. First let me say, this seems to be a great program for new dads to be to learn how to change a diaper and a few other basics. However, YOUKNOWIT, taking this class does not mean that you will be a good father or not taking the class does not mean that you won’t be a good father. The veteran dad will not be there for you in the middle of the night after your baby has been crying for hours because he is sick and you are tired and you have to get up to go to work. This class won’t stop you from throwing the baby against the wall because you are frustrated. Of course, you will be able to change that diaper, but will you have the patience. Taking this class will not guarantee that. There are also so many other things as the baby grows. What about the terrible twos? As they continue to grow, does taking this class help? Does this class teach you how to teach your boy to be a man? There only 5 men in the class. Where are all of the other hundreds of thousands of men in the surrounding area? Are they not stepping up and taking responsibility? You really showed what an idiot you are. Every black man that I know takes care of their children.
Posted 04:40 PM, 06/22/2009
daddysgirl - thanks for clearing up the fact that we missed a post there. I was wondering what the heck you were ranting about since i saw reason for you post.
i agree with you that taking the class doesn't make you a good father. Did i miss where it stated that no black men were in the class?
Not all men are good fathers - and it doesn't matter what race they are -
My grandfather (who is 93), my father and my brother are all GREAT fathers - i am lucky to have all 3 of them in my life!
Highland Square, OH
Posted 04:46 PM, 06/22/2009
Wow, six men signed up. Are they going to teach them that it's not called "baby-sitting"?
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:26 AM, 06/23/2009
deidre....To poster that was deleted stated there were no black men in the class and basically they are low lifes for not stepping up and getting with this program.
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:32 AM, 06/23/2009
deidre....To poster that was deleted stated there were no black men in the class and basically they are low lifes for not stepping up and getting with this program. And I am so happy you still have all of the men in your life still living and setting examples.
Posted 08:21 AM, 06/23/2009
daddysgirl-
Thanks!
I know a lot of great fathers - of ALL races - it has nothing to do with race. It sounds like you have some wonderful men in your life too!
