Fathers of Invention
Now that more dads are more involved in caring for their kids, some of them are coming up with products to make their lives easier, reports Stephanie Rosenbloom in The New York Times (8/16/07). For instance, Tommy Habeeb came up with an adaptor so he could attach a nipple to a standard bottle of water. Marketed by BabySport, you can buy his invention at 7-Eleven, Amazon.com, among other places. Scott Shoemaker, a father of three, started DadGear, offering "diaper bags and vests that look like rugged outdoor clothing, messenger bags and backpacks (there are designs with skulls and flames, camouflage and collegiate logos), but also have plenty of pockets for diapers, baby wipes and bottles." As Scott explains: "I love being a dad ... but I don't love the stereotype in this day and age that comes with it ... You're no longer in your mind or anyone else's mind an attractive, hip ... cool guy ... Why can't a dad have a cool diaper bag?" Doug Bacon shares Scott's humiliation, but is maybe not so concerned about fashion. His inspiration to invention was a vacation, when he endured nasty glances as he carted car-seats and other baby accoutrements into nice hotels. So he came up with the Toteatot, "a backpack-like device that can attach a car seat to a piece of rolling luggage. Then there's Greg Sheldon, inventor of the Itzbeen baby timer, which displays "how long it has been since the last changing, feeding, nap and dose of medication."
Amy Chezem of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association says dad-invented babycare items are definitely on the rise. "A lot of that has to do with the fact that dads are a lot more involved now than they were even a decade ago," she says. Indeed, a 2002 study by the Families and Work Institute found that "Generation X fathers (those age 23 to 37 at the time) spent significantly more workday time caring for and doing things with their children (an average of 3.4 hours each workday) than Boomer fathers did (2.2 hours each workday). The institute's president, Ellen Galinsky says the data tell "a men's story. Men really are different," she says, adding, "It may be an evolution rather than a revolution. But it really is a change."
Malcolm & Charlie
No mention about how cool it is being a 56 years old Dad with a three year old and another one on the way.
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