ConsumerWatch: New Groups, Products Help Dads Become More Involved Parents
(KPIX 5) - A new generation of dads is changing the face of fatherhood.
"Men are actually facing what working women are facing and there's a lot more pressure to be an active dad" said East Bay resident Jim Arby, is full-time dad with a full-time job.
When Arby first became a father four years ago, he began searching for outlets to connect with other dad's. When he couldn't find one, he created the East Bay Dad's group; a community of dads that meet up for play groups, camping trips, and the occasional dads only night out.
Today these groups are becoming more common, and the TheBump.com's Alison Bernstein said that's due in part to an increase in the societal pressured to be both provider and caretaker.
"I think dads are having children later in life in many cases. And by the time it comes around for their time to be a dad, they're really ready for that moment" said Bernstein.
She said there's been a recent influx of dad's on The Bump, which traditionally catered to moms. With thousands of new dads per month, they're now tracking emerging daddy trends like dadchelor parties.
"That wasn't even a word a couple of years ago" said Bernstein.
Today, the bump finds 1 in 5 dads have a last hurrah in the form of a dadchelor parties or man showers.
"If you have a bachelor party to say you are no longer single, you kind of have a dadchelor party to say you are no longer able to just go out do whatever it is you want to do," said Arby.
What he 'wants to do' changed after having kids and he's grateful for the influx of daddy-centric products that now help him do it in style.
In addition to the dude diaper bags, there are other products like the diaper vest, designed to hold diapers, wipes, bottles, cell phones, and comes with built in changing pad. Fatherhood is becoming a booming business for retailers which Araby believes demonstrates a cultural shift in what Dad's are expected to be and do.
"Being a fully engaged dad is becoming cool."
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