Top 5 Things for New Dads to Know
Life is good! The baby showers have happened, the nursery is painted, and the infant car seat base is installed in your car. You just have a few weeks left before your baby is born! With that excitement also often comes with some nervousness about becoming a new dad. Let us help ease your concerns with our Top 5 Things for New Dads to Know!
1. Your baby is not as fragile as you think! Yes, you need to support their necks when you hold them but that’s the main thing for you to know. Don’t be afraid to hold your baby and take care of their needs.
2. Babies can mostly go where you go! Don’t be afraid to take your baby outside and take them on a walk around your yard. In fact, letting your baby get a little sunlight can help raise their Vit D levels and lower their chances of jaundice. Take them on a ride around your neighborhood; the vibration of the car can sometimes settle them and put them to sleep.
3. You are your baby’s most favorite toy! Newborns don’t have great vision but they do love looking at faces and hearing your voice. They can even recognize your voice from when you spoke to them before they were born! Speaking to and singing to your baby can promote their speech and language development. No need to buy a ton of baby toys!
4. Your partner needs you! They just gave birth and are either recovering from a vaginal birth or a C-section . They need to take it easy and shouldn’t lift anything heavier than the baby. Along with the physical recovery their body is also going through some huge hormonal changes that make affect their moods and emotions. Try to make it so that their only job is to care for themselves and the baby (you can pitch in there, too). You can keep all the household tasks running by enlisting the help of family and friends. Check in often your partner’s emotional needs as they navigate this postpartum stage.
5. You’ve got this! We promise that you do. Yes, there will be times when you mess up or don’t know exactly what to do. We’ve all been there and parenting is mostly on-the-job training! Over time, you’ll really get to know your baby and their needs really well.
If you want to build your confidence even more, we highly recommend taking a Newborn Care class and joining a new parent support group. Your baby is so lucky to have you for a Dad!