Top tips for expecting dads.

[Bobinov]

I’ve just recently had the exciting news that I’m going to be a dad. I’ve always loved kids and can’t wait to meet my own. I’ve been reading a lot in mumsnet and other places but a lot of the advice is geared towards mums for obvious reasons. I wondered if this could be a thread where Dads can share any top tips, or ideas about what to expect which might be a little more dad oriented. Any books, websites that kind of thing.

www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/tips-for-dads-and-partners/how-can-dads-and-partners-support-breastfeeding

Do you have a mum in your life? How is she with your partner? This is very important when you have a baby.

My wife and mum have a really positive supportive relationship.

Best years of your life with your new baby I loved those days.Vital to have good relationships with mothers in law we were lucky in this respect we all got on well as a family. Such a relief when your fully knackered to have a couple of hours break especially if like us a bit ships in the night work wise.
Also to work as a team and to offer to take over as much as you can to give your partner plenty of rest.Great times

@Bobinov congratulations. If you are able rather than taking your paternity leave in a chunk I would rather have a couple of mornings or afternoons of a week so DW could have a lie or go to the gym etc.

[quote Daftasabroom]@Bobinov congratulations. If you are able rather than taking your paternity leave in a chunk I would rather have a couple of mornings or afternoons of a week so DW could have a lie or go to the gym etc.[/quote]
This is good advice.
My DH managed to to take one day a week off work for the first 6/7 months by using A/L , flexi etc and he used that day to take DS to a baby group. At first he was the only dad but he didn't care!
It gave me a break and was good for them both.

Chill. Don't get stressed about not being number one any more.

Learn to say "I've got the baby, have an hour". On the flip side, make sure you get your sleep too.

Agree with a PP that if you can make use of flexible paternity leave and go to every club you can as well as keeping on top of the housework.

CBeebies is your friend.

Buy baby wipes. Lots of baby wipes. Then buy more.

If parents/in laws offer to have baby, let them. And it's perfectly fine to go bleh and just vegetate rather than trying to make the house sterile.

Just enjoy it. They become hulking grunting things all too quickly.

My tips:

1. If you are fortunate enough to have inlaws or friends willing to babysit for a few hours or the odd evening take up the offer and go out and have a meal or even just a few drinks with your other half....this is so important to have down time.

1. Don't wait till the 6 month mark to get the baby in their own room/larger cot (assuming you feel safe to). We found that come 6 months our baby was more aware of her surroundings and hates going into her own cot for sleeping and we still have not cracked it (now 11 months old)

1. Try not to be too rigid with a routine as they move past the 'newborn' weeks.Stick to some basic routine i.e. bedtime, morning feed etc. We found this allowed our baby to be quite content to 'break' a typical rountine if we went to a friends house to stay overnight with her, or just fancied taking her with us for a weekend pub lunch or something..she wasn't suddenly throwing a tantrum because she was not fed 'on the dot' at 3pm (just an example).