Although not performing as well as moms, many Shanghai dads are still quality caregivers, Shanghai Morning Post reported Monday, citing a survey by the Shanghai Family Studies Center.
 
Nearly half of the dads prepare food for babies, feed them and even take care of them during the middle of the night, according to the survey, which covered 872 fathers and 880 mothers. Most of those questioned in the survey had a newborn or a child under age 12.

About 70 percent of the fathers take their child to hospital, talk with them, accompany them, teach them good habits and hug them, the survey said.

Nearly half of the fathers teach, tell stories and play games with their child while mothers do most of the daily necessities, according to the survey.

Busy careers prevented fathers from joining kids' school activities, as only 60 percent of fathers in the survey could easily ask for leave, the report said. Nearly 20 percent of fathers failed "due to work" to be at the hospital when their wives gave birth.

Only 13 percent of fathers said they are willing to be a full-time caregiver, while 35 percent of mothers said they could take care of their babies all day.

(Shanghai Daily June 19, 2007)