The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome's (NCSBS) Dads: The Basics program is designed to educate men about the dangers of shaking, to help them learn the skills they need to care for infants and to encourage discussion among the participants about their own perceptions of fatherhood. The course includes the latest in SBS/AHT (shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma) research, with information on injuries caused by shaking, factors that may trigger shaking and demographic information about victim and perpetrator profiles. Giving new fathers accurate information about crying behavior helps them understand age appropriate expectations. Dads learn how to deal with the stress of inconsolable crying and how to recognize crying patterns.

The Dads: The Basics course also provides the opportunity for men to learn basic child care skills, such as bathing, dressing and diapering an infant. Many new fathers do not have the same resources or information available to them that their expectant partners have. The Dads: The Basics program is intended to be a resource specifically for men as they go through pregnancy with their partner. The information in the course is written for a male audience and designed to address a father's concerns.

Dads: The Basics underwent testing for 5 years before being offered to the general public. To ensure the content met the majority of concerns of fathers, the program was field tested on military bases, young men’s groups in schools, and prenatal classes for new fathers. The NCSBS staff implemented and conducted a Dads Program on Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah. This program was offered to new and/or young fathers through the base advocacy center with approval from the Base Command. The field testing of the Dads: The Basics program helped refine and develop the program available today.

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"Being a good father is the greatest challenge of manhood. Dads: The Basics can help men succeed in their first steps as fathers. Making this new program available to new and expectant fathers should be a priority in every community that values its children and its future." David Corwin, MD, Child Psychiatrist

"Very informative. I got so much out of this course. Learning, interacting, talking about everything. I feel much more confident and I have a lot more ideas." Expectant father