New fathers will be given wallet-sized information cards from today telling them their legal rights, and how to care for babies, when they visit maternity units.

The “Dad Cards” will tell new fathers that it is a myth that they are less sensitive towards babies than mothers, or that women have any special talent with children. It will also warn fathers not married to the mothers of their child to get their names on the children’s birth certificates so that they are legally recognised.

They have been produced by a small group of fathers who run the dad.info website in defiance of the Government. The Department of Health has refused to endorse the scheme or make any financial contribution towards it. Despite this, individual maternity wards have ordered thousands of the cards.

Senior officials at the Department of Health are reluctant to back initiatives that target fathers specifically, in case it offends the small proportion of single mothers who have no contact with the father.

The cards are being funded by advertising on the website and by sales to local authorities, some of which have bought thousands of the cards.

The cards will emphasise the importance of fathers being involved with their children, saying rough and tumble games help children become popular, and that those in contact with their fathers do better at school.

More information: www.dad.info