Tips for first-time dads

“I just became a father, and everything seems all over the place. I am pretty confident that I will protect my baby from the world, but what can I do to make things easier for my wife in these first few weeks?”

 This is probably the first thought many of us may get when we witness the miracle of life. Although there’s so much to learn, Knowing what to expect when the baby arrives will help you care for your new baby and support your partner through the entire process.

Remember, you’ll get to hear a ton of advice from people, but make sure you listen to your partner first. Here are some tips that I am implementing these days; trust me, it isn’t easy but totally worth it.

Help where you can

Ceaser or normal delivery, regardless of how your partner delivers, her body will need time to recover and the last thing she needs is stressing about the extra work that needs her attention. Our desi mentality reminds us that everything is the mom’s duty when the baby arrives, but that’s not true.

The only activity exclusive to mothers is breastfeeding, the rest can be done by anyone. Fathers can bathe, change diapers, cook, clean and rock with the best of moms. Doing so allows your partner a much-needed break from the action.

If your partner is nursing, there’s more than one way to feed your baby. While men can’t breastfeed, they can be the ones to give the baby bottles of milk or formula, which gives your partner a break and provides you with some extra opportunities for bonding with your baby.

Night shift is all yours

As fathers, it is best to share in the early weeks of sleepless nights. There’s so much you can do: Pick the baby up, do any necessary diaper changing, cradle the baby to sleep, deliver the baby to your partner for feeding and let them rest in the crib or bassinet once the feeding is finished. This will help you connect more with your baby and give time to your partner to catch up on her sleep and take needed rest.

Night shift also includes dinners, here’s an invaluable piece of new-dad advice: Never ask an exhausted new mother, “What’s for dinner?” Instead, try, “Hey, what can I get for dinner?”

Parenthood is so much more than a full-time job, which means your wife’s share of chores will pile up. So pick up the slack on dishes, laundry, dusting, thank-you notes — whatever needs doing, whenever possible.

All of this will help your wife to recover fast and feel relieved; she needs nothing but love during this time, so make sure you shower her with all the love you have to give!

As fathers, it is best to share in the early weeks of sleepless nights. There’s so much you can do: Pick the baby up, do any necessary diaper changing, cradle the baby to sleep, deliver the baby to your partner for feeding and let them rest in the crib or bassinet once the feeding is finished. This will help you connect more with your baby and give time to your partner to catch up on her sleep and take needed rest.

Night shift also includes dinners, here’s an invaluable piece of new-dad advice: Never ask an exhausted new mother, “What’s for dinner?” Instead, try, “Hey, what can I get for dinner?”

Parenthood is so much more than a full-time job, which means your wife’s share of chores will pile up. So pick up the slack on dishes, laundry, dusting, thank-you notes — whatever needs doing, whenever possible.

All of this will help your wife to recover fast and feel relieved; she needs nothing but love during this time, so make sure you shower her with all the love you have to give!

Listen to her

Sure, everyone’s trying to help you by offering the advice that worked for them but know that what works for one couple may not work for the other couple. But the most important person to listen to once the baby arrives is your wife, discuss how things should be taken care of with her.

Most people love taking a dig at how a couple decides to parent their child, putting all the pressure on the mother, and it can get frustrating at times. So encourage your partner to communicate, listen to her vent, and allow her to tell you how she is feeling and what she needs. Things won’t feel overwhelming if she knows her teammate got her back.

Co-parenting is the key

It’s no secret that babies thrive on consistency. You and your partner will need to work together to establish routines for your baby. And once those routines are developed, you’ll both need to be on the same page to stick to it.  Since you both were most likely raised differently, be sure to talk about your expectations for raising your child and how you plan to go about it.

Raising a child is not alone a mother’s job; you too have a crucial role to play.

Postpartum Depression is real

Postpartum depression and anxiety is a genuine issue that affects many new mothers around us and I understand that as a loving partner. You may feel the urge to help fix things. First and foremost, make sure your wife gets the medical help she needs. If she’s struggling with postpartum depression, never take it lightly. Consult a psychologist or a psychiatrist as soon as possible and sort things out.

Don’t rush; take one game at a time!

Being a first-time father and meeting your baby for the first time is exciting! Once the baby is around, your fatherly instincts will kick in, and you’ll grow into an amazing dad.

Don’t confuse yourself too much; babies need time to adjust to the new environment and that is natural. Trust me when I say that there’s only so much you will learn when you spend time with your little one. Just go with the flow and enjoy fatherhood while you can!