Male Allies, Missing Links: Why Indian Fathers Must Step Up for Breastfeeding Equity

As we mark World Breastfeeding Week 2025, the global spotlight is once again on support systems for nursing mothers. But in India, a critical support system continues to be missing in action: fathers.

Too often, breastfeeding is framed as a solitary bond between mother and child. What’s missing from this picture is the undeniable truth that successful breastfeeding is a team effort and right now, the team is incomplete.

Across the world, research consistently shows that when fathers are informed and involved, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates improve significantly. Studies from Vietnam, Turkey, Brazil, and a meta-analysis spanning the UK, Australia, Canada, and China all affirm this: when fathers are educated and engaged, mothers breastfeed longer and better. The impact isn’t marginal it’s transformative.

So why are Indian fathers still on the sidelines?

The problem is not apathy it’s exclusion. Breastfeeding in India remains largely framed as a ‘women’s domain,’ leaving fathers uninformed, underprepared, and out of the picture. A 2024 study in urban Odisha found that only 1.2% of fathers had strong breastfeeding knowledge. In Mumbai’s informal settlements, many fathers voiced support in theory—but offered little hands-on help. In Andhra Pradesh, just 23.6% knew that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months.

This knowledge gap plays out differently in urban and rural India. Urban fathers, with greater access to education and media, often fall prey to commercial marketing of formula milk. In fact, only 1.18% of urban slum fathers had good breastfeeding knowledge, and many held favorable views toward formula feeding. On the other hand, rural fathers—though often less formally educated—tend to be more practically supportive, guided by community norms and traditional practices.

But in both settings, the truth is clear: fathers matter. They may not lactate, but they can—and must nourish in other ways.

From taking over night duties and cooking meals to simply validating the emotional toll of new motherhood, fathers have countless ways to create space for breastfeeding to thrive. Skin-to-skin contact, especially when mothers are recovering from childbirth or C-sections, can regulate a baby’s temperature and heartbeat while deepening the father-infant bond.

More importantly, men have the power to challenge the cultural stigma around breastfeeding whether by supporting their partners in public, asking the right questions at antenatal visits, or refusing to default to formula. In a society where grandmothers and neighbors still steer parenting choices, and where public breastfeeding remains taboo, fathers must be the cultural disruptors.

Yet, even the most willing fathers are shackled by systemic limitations.

India’s policy environment has made strides in maternity protections, offering six months of paid leave to mothers. But paternity remains an afterthought. Most Indian men receive zero paid leave, forcing them to return to work within days of childbirth. Without paternity leave, flexible hours, or targeted parenting education, men are simply not set up to succeed.

If we want to move the needle on breastfeeding rates and the lifelong health benefits they bring we must design a system that includes men from the start. That means:

• Paid paternity leave as a standard, not a privilege
• Flexible working hours for new fathers
• Breastfeeding education for both parents, not just mothers
• Culturally relevant programs that target men across rural and urban contexts

Breastfeeding is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions we have. It boosts immunity, prevents malnutrition, and lowers maternal and infant mortality. Yet, far too many Indian mothers give up early exhausted, unsupported, or misinformed. Behind every early wean is often a silent void: a father who wanted to help, but didn’t know how.

Here’s what Indian fathers can start doing—today:

• Attend prenatal classes and learn about lactation
• Share newborn care responsibilities actively
• Push for breastfeeding-friendly environments at work
• Speak up against formula myths and stigma
• Normalize breastfeeding talk—in homes, offices, and public spaces

As we talk equity in Indian homes, let’s remember: inclusion starts at the crib. When fathers stand up with intention, empathy, and knowledge, the ripple effects reach far beyond the home touching communities, systems, and futures.

‘Fathers are essential partners in the breastfeeding journey their support, care, and involvement make all the difference.’

By Dr. Tanvi Chauhan (Dr. Tanvi is a Manager- Health & Nutrition Programmes in Bal Raksha Bharat)