Any mother who has weathered a bout of the new-baby blues know that the mysterious syndrom packs a powerful emotional punch. The condition, characterized by three to ten days of mood swings, loneliness, sadness, and low self-esteem, has long been considered an

exclusively female experience. But according to experts, women are not the only victims; fathers, too, can come down with a version of the baby blues.

A host of factors can fuel a new father’s anxiety. First-time dads sometimes feel intimidated by hands-on fatherhood, says Robert Hickman, codirector of the Postpartum Mood Disorder Clinic in San Diego. A father may worry excessively about accidently hurting the baby when he picks her up, for instance.

It’s also normal for a father to feel left out because of the amount of attention and energy his partner devotes to the newborn; he may respond with resentment, sadness, even jealousy. And dads who are the sole source of financial support commonly have fears about their ability to provide for the larger family.

In a study at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland, research Martha Zaslow found that men who did not experience the new-baby blues were more involved in caring for their infant that the men who did suffer from the syndrome. Although Zaslow’s study didn’t show a causal relationship between caregiving and postpartum depression, other experts see a link between a father’s

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involvement with his baby and the likelihood of his escaping the blues.

To ensure that the transition into parenthood is a smooth and happy one, new dads, like their female counterparts, sometimes need an extra measure of support. Experts recommend a number of ways for father to get that help:

Become Involved Right Away From the moment the baby is born, Dad should try to spend as much time as possible with his new son or daughter, taking time off from work, if possible. The more quickly a father bonds emotionally with his baby, the more confident he’ll feel as a parent. At the same time, however, fathers must realize that there’s no such thing as a perfect dad.

Get Some Rest Sleep is a precious commodity in the months after a child is born. But the ability to care for a new-born is compromised when both parents suffer from sleep deprivation and jangled nerves. It helps if Mom and Dad take turns napping.

Meet With Friends Just as women need an occasional break from the rigors of parenthood, fathers should also try to get away from time to time. Swapping stories with other new dads about 2:00 a.m. feedings can be a great remedy for the postpartum blues. If a father can’t shake his depression, Hickman suggests seeking out a support group designed specificially for new dads.

Make A Date - With Each Other Most couples experience an increase in marital conflict after the birth of their first child, which can contribute to the baby blues. That means that it’s essential for parents to spend some peaceful time together, even if they can only manage an hour or two a day. After all, one of the best gifts a couple can give a baby is their own happiness.