POSING WITH BABIES. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES GET ADVICE.

(PRWEB) February 6, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Steve Dubin, PR Works, (781) 878-9533, sdubin@prworkzone.com

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES GET ADVICE
ON POSING WITH BABIES
FROM "BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS"

DATELINE: ISSUED TO THE PRESS ON FEBRUARY 7, 2000...
From Al Gore to George W. Bush and all the presidential hopefuls can agree on one thing. Posing with babies is a lot tougher than youd think (see photos of the candidates posing with babies at www.newdads.com).

Fortunately for the executive office stumpers they now have tips from the experts – the men from Boot Camp for New Dads who train 10,000 new fathers each year via workshops that are run through more than 80 hospitals, clinics, schools and churches in 34 states across the U.S.

Listen up future Commanders in Chief.

Spit Happens. Picking up the babies as politicians do, not knowing if the are fed or not is a gamble with the spew. Just like politicians they can nail you without any change in their expression. Without handing the baby back to mom or dad when this occurs, kindly ask for a burp rag and wipe like its no big deal. Stay cool with drool.

Lift, Spin & Smile. Hold the little cherub facing mom & dad (and the camera) so she continues to see their familiar faces.    Babies think you are ugly compared to their own handsome dads, especially if dad is also bald (bald dads are good for a babys self esteem).

Guessing gender is like playing baby roulette. Dont be fooled by pink or blue. Dont be misled by bald or long-haired infants. A good non-committal exclamation is, "What a beautiful baby." Or, "Are you sure this isnt an angel" – although this one may not play all that well with the Catholic Church.

Keep mom or dad within sight. Dont block out the little ones view of their security source. Its difficult to put a positive spin on a melt down.

Dont avoid crying babies, or other tough issues. If mom is offering, help her out and take the baby. When you hold him up, the change of scenery may quiet the baby temporarily, and you will get the credit. You get points for trying as well.

No Rapid Returns. When an odor arises in the spotlight of holding a baby, dont do
rapid return to mom or dad. As Commander and Chief you will need to handle stressful
situations, no matter who is dishing it out.

Little Egbert is not a football. Dont toss, flip or bounce the baby. Not only is this a dangerous practice, but this boisterous play is something only a dry cleaning can love.

Get down to their level. Towering over a baby in a stroller can scare them, while crouching down and speaking softly can elicit a beautiful smile for the cameras.

Beware of strangers. Beginning at about 8 months, babies develop stranger anxiety, which can turn a smiling baby into a screamer in a nannysecond. Hand him back to dad and loudly proclaim "I think you are the only one who can make him happy".

Flash Attack. Flash photography generally will frighten babies. Utilize bright-lit areas
and day light for the baby display. A happy baby is a happy mom/dad is a happy voter.

Get a grip. A good time to hold a baby is when you are trying to avoid shaking certain
hands. Remember – both hands on the baby.

Safety first! Remove pens and sharp objects from shirt pockets, and keep both hands on the baby. They can squirm in unexpected ways, so be prepared.

UNCLE SAM WANT YOU
Boot Camp for New Dads extends an invitation to all presidential candidates to visit one of one the organizations new dad sessions at a conveniently located hospital, clinic, school or church. This provides not only a chance to hone baby posing skills, but an opportunity to make a formal or informal stand on fatherhood in the new millennium.

HIT THE GROUND CRAWLING
Boot Camp For New Dads" is a unique hospital-based, non-profit program that brings "rookie" fathers-to-be together with "veteran" recent dads and their newborns.
Boot Camp for New Dads provides a man-to-man format for new dads, under the guidance of experienced coaches."

Men discuss issues such as "What do I do once this bundle of joy gets home?," How do I juggle long hours at work with my new responsibilities at home?," "How do I handle parenting criticism from my mother-in-law?," "Can I do anything to help my wife with breast-feeding?," and "What should I do if I lose it and am about to go beyond the stress point?"

The veterans also share their babies with the rookies for hands-on training, and demonstrate how to hold, comfort, diaper, swaddle, relieve gas/colic, and play with an infant. Coaches, facilitators chosen by the hospital, keep the three-hour program focused, humorous, and informational.

Founder of the decade old program Greg Bishop noted, "In the past, most dads were limited to the role of breadwinner and disciplinarian. Now we are seeing more and more dads making tough choices about reducing their workload and prioritizing their time to take a more active role in fathering." He continued, "When I walk through airports, I see more dads cuddling their babies; men's rooms have baby changing tables. I see dads at the school bus stop in the morning, and see them pushing carriages through the mall. Involved and enthusiastic dads are prevalent, and families are benefiting."

FATHER FACTOR
Research bears out widespread anecdotal evidence of more active fathering. A recent study by the Families and Work Institute reveals that fathers are closing the gap with moms and now put in 75% of the time moms spend on childcare and household chores, up from 30% in 1977. Fathers now spend more time doing things with their children than they spend on themselves, and despite the rise in dual income families, children are getting more parental attention due to the change in fathers' behavior.

Research from Princetons Sara McLanahan PhD confirms that most new fathers want to love, care and provide for their baby, and that support early on when they are most receptive is essential. "This should start at the hospital, which is uniquely positioned to help men become fathers."

Fathers doing their job is good news. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, a variety of studies clearly demonstrate that children with involved fathers benefit academically, emotionally, and socially. While dads have turned the corner, the fact that 40% of children in America will go to bed tonight in a home without their fathers indicates there is still a long road ahead.

BOOT CAMP BEGINNINGS
Greg Bishop, founder of the decade old Boot Camp for New Dads, has had lots of hands-on experience in caring for babies. He has enjoyed his 12 siblings, 4 children of his own and numerous nieces and nephews, Bishop noticed that many men didn't seem to enjoy fathering as such as he did. After extensive research, he founded Boot Camp For New Dads at Irvine Medical Center in 1990 and has volunteered as Head Coach ever since.

The practical, hands-on program has taken off this past year due to surging demand from new fathers for information they can trust. National media, including news segments on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN as well as the Leeza Gibbons Show, the Gayle King Show, and others, have helped fuel the expansion to 72 programs reaching thousands of new dads. More than 100 hospitals throughout the nation are projected to participate by 1999. The program is designed to bring a dad's perspective to the 1.5 million men who become fathers each year across America.

BADGE OF HONOR
"I can't imagine a more rewarding activity than helping new dads step up to the challenge," noted Bishop, a Stanford MBA and active Boot Camp coach. "These guys are inspiring and should make all men proud, because once they understand how much they are needed, they deliver."

ROLL CALL
For more information about Boot Camp for New Dads, please call (949) 786-3146 or visit http://www.newdads.com.

Editors:
Photos are available to help illustrate this story. To arrange an interview with Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads, or a coach at a Boot Camp program in your region, please contact Steve Dubin, Drool Sergeant & PR counsel at (781) 878-9533, sdubin@prworkzone.com.

Boot Camp for New Dads - Outposts

Chandler, Arizona
Paradise Valley Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona

Scottsdale Memorial Hospital
Scottsdale, Arizona

Northwest Health System, Inc
Springdale, Arkansas

Baby Steps
Bakersfield, California

Corona Reg. Med. Ctr.
Corona, California

Irvine Medical Center
Irvine, California

Northridge Hospital
Northridge, California

Pomona Valley Hospital
Medical Center
Pomona Valley, California

Alexian Brothers Hospital
San Jose, California

Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara Fathers Coalition
Santa Barbara, California

Saint Joseph Hospital
Denver, Colorado

N. Colorado Med. Ctr.
Greeley, Colorado

Bristol Hospital
Bristol, Connecticut

Memorial Regional Hospital
Hollywood, Florida

NE Georgia Medical Center
Gainesville, Georgia

Kennestone Hospital
Marietta, Georgia

Provina Mercy Center
Aurora, Illinois

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois

St. James Hospital
Chicago Heights, Illinois

St. Marys Hospital
Decatur, Illinois

St. Francis Hospital
Evanston, Illinois

Delnor Community Hospital
Geneva, Illinois

Highland Park Hospital
Highland Park, Illinois

Condell    Medical Center
Libertyville, Illinois

West Suburban Hospital
Oak Park, Illinois

Community Hospital of Anderson
Anderson, Indiana

First Steps/Step Ahead of Wells Co.
Caylor-Nickel Medical Ctr.
Wells Community Hospital
Bluffton, Indiana

St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare
Hammond, Indiana

Womens Hospital of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

Clarke Memorial Hospital
Jeffersonville, Indiana

Saint Josephs Hospital
Kokomo, Indiana

Saint Josephs Medical Ctr.
South Bend, Indiana

Marian Health Center
Sioux City, Iowa

Saint Francis Hospital
Topeka, Kansas

Parkview Memorial Hospital
Brunswick, Maine

Memorial Hospital at Easton
Easton, Maryland

Berverly Hospital
Beverly, Massachusetts

South Shore Hospital
South Weymouth, Massachusetts

Baystate Health System
Springfield, Massachusetts

St. Joseph Mercy Med. Ctr.
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Bronson Medical Center
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Lakeland Medical Center
St. Joseph, Michigan

Saint Marys Hospital
Duluth, Minnesota

No. Memorial Medical Center
Robbinsdale, Minnesota

North Mississippi Healthcare
Tupelo, Mississippi

University of Missouri Hosp.
Columbia, Missouri

St. Vincent Hospital
Billings, Montana

St. Peters Community Hosp.
Helena, Montana

Elliot Hospital
Manchester, New Hampshire

Glens Falls Hospital
Glens Falls, New York

Samaritan Hospital
Watertown, New York

Carteret General Hospital
Morehead City, No.Carolina

Wake Med
Raleigh, North Carolina

United Hospital
Grand Forks, North Dakota

Akron General Medical Center
Akron, Ohio

St. Ritas Medical Center
Lima, Ohio

Community Health Partners
Loraine, Ohio

Southwest General Health Center
Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Southern Ohio Medical Ctr.
Portsmouth, Ohio

St. Vincent Medical Center
Toledo, Ohio

Rogers County Health Department
Claremore, Oklahoma

Hillcrest Medical Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma

DuBois Regional Med. Ctr.
DuBois, Pennsylvania

Good Samaritan Regional
Pottsville Pennsylvania

Greenwood Community Children's Center
Greenwood, South Carolina

Oconee Co. Memorial Hosp.
Walhalla, South Carolina

First Things First
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Northeast Baptist Hospital
San Antonio, Texas

Trinity Valley Medical Center
Trinity, Texas

The Lund Family Center
Burlington, Vermont

Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans, Vermont

Virginia Fatherhood Initiative
Chesapeake, Virginia

Peace Health System
Longview, Washington

Northwest Hospital
Seattle, Washington

Wheeling Hospital
Wheeling, West Virginia

Watertown Memorial Hospital
Watertown, Wisconsin