All-around dads feed, care for basic needs and play with their babies. Playmate fathers, like Emily's Dad, primarily play with their babies. Care-giving is not at the basis of their relationship. Disciplinarian fathers are also engaged with their babies but they tend to emphasize what is right and wrong, to clean up and to focus on order. They play for short periods, and care-giving is minimal.
Disengaged fathers have few functions that characterize their time with babies.
The way a father approaches his infant may relate to his job. All-around fathers and disengaged fathers tend to have higher status jobs as compared with playmate and disciplinarian fathers. Disengaged fathers tend to struggle with more depression and tension. Yet they share with all-around dads a basic optimism in their work. Playmate dads seem to struggle more with job satisfaction and report more difficulties with colleagues.