attitudes of expectant fathers regarding breastfeeding fathers participate in choosing the feeding method for their newborns however they traditionally have not been included in most breastfeeding education programs to examine expectant fathers attitudes and knowledge regarding breastfeeding we surveyed 268 men during the first session of their childbirth education classes at five private hospitals in houston texas the study population was 81 white 8 black and 6 hispanic ninetyseven percent n 259 of the total were married fiftyeight percent n 156 reported that their spouses planned to breastfeed exclusively several significant differences existed between these men and those who reported plans for exclusive formula feeding the breastfeeding group was more likely to believe breastfeeding is better for the baby 96 vs 62 p less than 0001 helps with infant bonding 92 vs 53 p less than 0001 and protects the infant from disease 79 vs 47 p less than 001 the breastfeeding group was also more likely to want their partner to breastfeed 90 vs 13 p less than 0001 and to have respect for breastfeeding women 57 vs 16 p less than 0001 conversely those in the formula feeding group were more likely to think breastfeeding is bad for breasts 52 vs 22 p less than 01 makes breasts ugly 44 vs 23 p less than 05 and interferes with sex 72 vs 24 p less than 0001 the majority of both groups indicated breastfeeding was not acceptable in public breastfeeding 71 formula feeding 78 p less than 05abstract truncated at 250 words