The document outlines six strategies to engage fathers in supporting breastfeeding: 1) Use humor and emotion to grab their attention; 2) Meet fathers where they are already present such as at immunization days; 3) Challenge stereotypes by making breastfeeding support seem masculine; 4) Give fathers practice responding to challenges to breastfeeding through roleplaying scenarios; 5) Provide clear, small actions fathers can take; 6) Highlight benefits fathers care about such as strengthening the father-child bond.

3. Strategy 1. Grab their attention with emotion – and
humor! This cartoon image made fathers chuckle and
brought fathers back to the clinic to ask for more mugs.

4. Strategy 2: Find fathers where they already are.
Staff shifted the group counseling sessions on
breastfeeding to the monthly immunization day, when
fathers already came to the clinic.

5. Strategy 3: Ease the way by busting stereotypes.
Teams of dads prepare to go head-to-head at the
district contest, making it seem manly to speak up
for breastfeeding.

6. A jury of professionals scored each team's creative
introduction, knowledge quiz, and response to a
true-to-life interactive video scenario challenging
exclusive breastfeeding.

7. Strategy 4: Give fathers practice. During the contest,
each team of fathers must respond to a typical
challenge to breastfeeding. The team watches a short,
interactive video scenario. The video sets up the
beginning of the story but does not provide an
ending. The team must complete the scenario by
offering some words the father could use to respond
to the challenge.
Here the father asks, “What would you do?”

8. Strategy 5: Provide crystal-
clear direction for actions
fathers can take. A key
strategy is to name small,
doable actions fathers can
take. The project’s poster
and brochure offer a
detailed list.

9. Strategy 6: Show fathers a
benefit that they care
about. Messaging makes
fathers feel special in the
supporting role. Fathers can
see how their actions could
increase exclusive
breastfeeding and improve
baby’s intellect and health.