The Rock has unusual advice for new dads: take off your shirt when the baby arrives

Dwayne Johnson is known for his larger-than-life presence, but what often stands out more is how he shows up as a father. He’s shared plenty of moments with his daughters over the years, from letting them do his makeup to joining in on their games without hesitation. In one incident, when Canadian television personality Chris Van Vliet (@CVVClips), who was about to become a father himself, expressed his curiosity about Johnson's fatherhood journey, the "Fast & Furious" star revealed a gesture that, he believes, greatly helps develop a strong bond between parents and their newborn.

'Your gut is right'

"Do you have some advice on how I can be a great father like you?” Van Vliet asked Johnson. “Your gut is right. Your instinct is right. You are going to be a great father,” Johnson affirmed to Vliet, right after giving him a friendly hug. The hack, the actor said, was life-changing regarding fatherhood. “Take your shirt off. I need you to go skin to skin," Johnson said. Explaining why it works, Johnson said it builds an energetic and emotional anchor that develops between the parent and the child when they hold them skin-to-skin right out of the womb.

Photographic proof

This is not the first time Johnson has advocated this gesture. In April 2018, when his third daughter, Tiana, came into this world, he posted a photo of himself cradling the baby skin-to-skin. “Your crazy dad has many responsibilities and wears many hats in this big ol’ world, but being your dad will always be the one I’m most proud to wear. Oh, and one more thing... you’re gonna love rollin’ in daddy’s pick up truck,” he wrote at the time. Days after his post, The Rock’s girlfriend, Lauren Hashian, posted another selfie holding the baby, doing the same gesture.

'Kangaroo care'

It’s not just The Rock. Doctors have approved that skin-to-skin contact with the newborns is not just a beautiful way to bond with them but also healthy. Dubbed as “Kangaroo care,” the gesture involves holding the baby against one’s bare chest, per the Cleveland Clinic. Not only does it support the baby’s health, but it also helps the baby get started with breastfeeding. 

Viewers loved the advice, and some of them even regretted not doing the gesture with their own kids. @y2k704 said, "I got a bit teary-eyed during that. I regret not doing the skin-to-skin with my son." @Americanista4evr wrote, "Taking off your shirt to also be skin on skin with the baby is excellent advice for all fathers."

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