X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Babies Who Look Like Their Dads Are Healthier, Claims Study

3 min read
Babies Who Look Like Their Dads Are Healthier, Claims Study

Does your baby resemble mummy or daddy more? Let us know in our poll!

“Awww, he looks just like his dad!” How many of you have heard this about your little one? Once a baby is born, family and friends will naturally remark whether a baby looks like dad or their mum.

As a baby grows and develops, their facial appearance, as well as their personality also starts to change.

While looking more like one parent is believed to be caused by genetic factors, its effects go beyond that. It can even influence parenting, and importantly, improve the baby’s health, says a new study.

Baby looks like dad? Then dad will be more motivated to care for them!

It all boils down to mum and dads level of parental investment, and what motivates positive parenting efforts.

According to the study’s researchers, fathers whose babies bear a striking resemblance to them influences how engaged they are as a parent. 

“Those fathers that perceive the baby’s resemblance to them are more certain the baby is theirs, and thus spend more time with the baby,” explains professor Solomon Polachek to Medical Daily.

Fathers no doubt play an important role in childrearing. If they are involved in a child’s upbringing, Polachek believes this “manifests itself in the health of the child.”

A dad’s involvement in the caregiving and supervision of their kids can improve a child’s health

The study’s researchers observed 715 families registered by the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW). These families had kids who lived solely with their mums.

Though fathers lived apart from them, their resemblance served as “a paternity cue used by men especially for making time-investment decisions.” 

“We find a child’s health indicators improve when the child looks like the father,” explains the study’s researchers. “The main explanation is that frequent father visits allow for greater parental time for caregiving and supervision, and for information gathering about child health and economic needs.”

baby looks like dad

Baby looks like dad? Lots of bonding with time with dad is believed to boost a baby’s health! | Photo: iStock

It’s not that dads don’t love babies who don’t resemble them, but the study believes some dads need motivation. Whereas mums are naturally caring, regardless of who their baby looks like. 

“Because women do not need facial resemblance cues to decide whether to provide care, we expect baby looks affect child developmental outcomes only through a father’s investments,” said the study.

Though having a dad around is of course not the sole determinant of a a good childhood, it surely helps.

What’s more, it would also be unfair to generalise about parental investment, as family dynamics differ across countries and cultures.

For those who are co-parenting, this study could be even more motivation to stay involved in a child’s life.

But regardless of whether you believe this study’s claims, there is not enough scientific research that can fully define the lasting impact of being a hands-on and loving parent.

So tell us dear readers, does your baby resemble mummy or daddy more? Let us know in our poll!

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles

sources: Medical Daily, Journal of Health Economics

READ THIS ALSO: Baby stares at beautiful people: A study shows babies trust them more

Babies Who Look Like Their Dads Are Healthier, Claims Study

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Bianchi Mendoza

  • Home
  • /
  • Ages & Stages
  • /
  • Babies Who Look Like Their Dads Are Healthier, Claims Study
Share:
  • Poll: Beyoncé's baby looks like...?

    Poll: Beyoncé's baby looks like...?

  • Behind The Scenes - Here’s What Parenting REALLY Looks Like!

    Behind The Scenes - Here’s What Parenting REALLY Looks Like!

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • Poll: Beyoncé's baby looks like...?

    Poll: Beyoncé's baby looks like...?

  • Behind The Scenes - Here’s What Parenting REALLY Looks Like!

    Behind The Scenes - Here’s What Parenting REALLY Looks Like!

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.