While the father did what he probably thought was a good thing I have to wonder about that whole incident. Perhaps, in excusing the father I could say that he did what he thought was best or right. Maybe he was a single father and didn't have the means to support his baby? Maybe he had some other issues such as drug or other life changing addiction and in that case he did do the child a favor. Abandoned children are not something new. I can remember before abortions were legal in the States how babies would turn up here and there once in a while. How young women were being found dead with their insides torn up due to the back alley attempted abortions.
What is the best way?
I don't know. There are means to prevent pregnancies, there are ways to have a child and have it taken care of in a healthy and loving way, there are even abortions and 'after the fact abortion pills'
There are ways to prevent but I believe that most religions tend to impress their followers in ways that are not healthy. So many religious persons that should know better push for anti abortion, anti birth control, and anti anything that doesn't fit their 'beliefs' of what a person should be like. I often wonder what Jesus or Budda or any other prophet or leader of religion that had that 'direct line to God or Allah' would really do in these times.