Another good reason to get dads more involved: involved dads are better at managing their children's health. This Saint Louis University study, out today, suggests that a good chunk of dads aren't making it to doctors appointments for their children. The numbers aren't as dire, actually, as I would have thought, but the fact that men are being tied to their chair by their bosses isn't at all encouraging. The study raises a good point: this is about a child's safety and well-being, not just being an involved, supportive parent. A dad in the E.R. who doesn't know when a kid last had a shot or if the child is allergic to penicillin is putting the child at some risk.

So how do we change that? This Indianapolis Star story from the weekend suggests that dad classes are a good way to start getting fathers involved early. The problem is that dragging fathers to parenting classes seems to be a challenge. I've celebrated the concept before, plugging Hogan Hilling's Proud Dads, but the fact is that it is damn hard to get guys to come out. I don't know if that's a failure in marketing by the hospital or what. I've long thought someone should be cornering the guys who show up to Lamaze classes and get 'em committed to a post-natal course then and there. Anyone have other ideas?