Background. Nowadays, in Sweden, fathers are expected to be active in their father role and to share caring responsibilities for their children equally with mothers. This active role of the father in the family can be challenging, especially for the first-time fathers. Child health nurses' support is an important factor for the fathers to manage difficulties of their fathership. It is important to provide the support, corresponding to the fathers needs and expectations of parental support in order to empower fathers to be confident caregivers. The Father Perceived Professional Support scale can be used in nursing practice to better understand the father's needs of professional support.

Aim. The aim of the study is to describe first-time fathers' experiences of the professional support offered by child health nurses and to validate the instrument: "Father-Perceived-Professionals-Support scale (FaPPS scale)".

Method. A qualitative design with inductive and deductive approaches was used in conduction of the study. Twelve first time fathers participated in the semi-structured interviews of the study thereafter grading the FaPPS scale items and commenting on them.

Result. Fathers experienced nurses' support positively when nurses provided useful practical information and stimulated them to be involved practically and emotionally in care of their children. Fathers lacked nurses' commitment and nurses' support to be adapted to their needs as well as to be available for them. Some fathers also experienced inequality in nurses' treatment. However, the fathers also perceived the mothers to be in a greater need of nurses' support and they also wished to be advised about how to support the mother. Fathers expect nurses to actively offer support to them and supervise them in a childcare. Fathers also expressed that they would like to meet the parents in the same situations in parental groups.

Conclusion. Nurses' support to the first -time fathers should be more available for fathers and more adapted to their father role. When meeting fathers' needs of support, the nurses need to be aware of their supportive skills. The FaPPS scale can be used both in research and clinical practice, though still needing development.