When did you know that your partner / husband would make a good dad?

[dodi1978]

My DH was, I think, not sure about the whole baby thing. Before DS was born 17 months ago, I was a bit worried that they wouldn't bond. He wasn't that involved in the pragnancy, didn't read any books, only went to NCT Meetings because I wanted to...

However, I knew right after his birth that everything would be right: whilst I delivered placentas and was stiched up, this man man of a man sat in his hospital chair for hours, cudding DS and talking to him in language I didn't know he had!

A few weeks later, when I took DS into work for the first time, DH's "good dad" status was confirmed for good when he called me on my mobile to say in the most accusatory voice to say "You forgot DS' blankie!". Not blanket. Blankie!

When did you know that your partner or husband would make a good dad?

Way before DC, we'd only been going out a year. On holiday in a hot humid country, I felt faint and DH pulled me into a street stall, ordered a lemonade and a cookie, asked which I wanted first and said he'd hold the cookie while I had my drink and then took my cup while I ate the cookie. I just knew that he knew how to take care of people and decided I wanted to marry him and have his DC.

When I saw the joy on his face the first time he met his 3 week old niece. I thought 'this man loves kids, yay!'

How gentle and kind he is to our dog, how he looked after her as a puppy and cleaned up her mess with lots of patience and understanding.

When my nephews came along, he was brilliant looking after them - lots of time and patience :)

3 weeks into going out when I was invited to his brother's and they asked my DH to give his nephew & niece a bath. he was just so lovely with them and they adored him. It was a lovely thing to see.

btw those two little monkeys just had a joint birthday party as they celebrated turning 21 & 18. how time flies!

he is in fact a brilliant dad. no way we would have had 7 children otherwise!

I had an inkling because of how well he looked after me. He does a good 70% of the house work and cooks virtually all our meals. He even has an alarm set on his phone to remind me to take my vitamins! (Infact, he brings them to me with a glass of water!). I really don't need this level of looking after, he's always just done it! But I hadn't seen him around children that often and he was never the kind to play with my neices and nephews (I think he found them intimidating!)

However, from the moment our baby was born I knew he'd be amazing. And the first 2 weeks where I was a complete hormonal mess and cried constantly he made sure the baby was fed and clothed. He then physically helped me to breast feed again when I was sane enough to cope with it! His memory and attention to detail is what I love. I'm a bit slap dash about things, he'll make sure all the little things are done every time.

Hearing the language I never knew he had (like the OP discovered) completely melts my heart. I had no idea he knew how to talk to a baby but he just does! And although she's only 9 weeks he's already incredibly proud of all her little achievements, like getting head control or doing a burp! :)

DH has always said he doesn't like kids, and they annoy him. But when I saw him playing trains with my friends then 5 year old I knew he was lying! The look on his face when holding another friends newborn confirmed the lie.
When DD was born I was very ill, both DD and I were on intensive care units so DH was splitting his time between us. He did a fantastic job and when I was awake he could tell me in detail everything that was going on with DD. He normally doesn't pay attention much and is rather vague on details! When I got to see her it was him showing me how to change her nappy!
6 months later he's still very hands on and the doting dad.
He still says he doesn't like other people's kids.

This is a heartwarming thread that's making me well up smile.

We don't have a DC yet, but I think my DH will make a good father based on how loving and kind he is towards animals - I know that sounds strange but he's adorable with our dog. He's also great with friends kids, he just 'gets' how to talk to them and play with them, which I have to admit I'm not very good at.

I hope I'm right!

I had always suspected that my dh would be a wonderful father, but seeing him have his heart melted by my then 3 month old niece during our Christmas 2012 visit confirmed it. he was so good with her and we decided to start ttc that new year. 2 weeks later I was pregnant! since our ds was born he has surpassed my expectations!

Dp is not the emotional type, didn't take much notice of my pregnancy and didn't seem excited. He cried when DD was born, whispered something in her ear and has continued to be a truly excellent loving father for 2 and a bit years. Lucky little girl!

DP always said she didn't want kids and doesn't seem like the maternal type really. I remember the exact moment when I contemplated having kids with her - I was really ill for the first time about three years into our relationship. She read to me and fed me and bathed me with such care, and then presented me with a box of everything I could possibly need when she had to go to work. I just thought that she'd make such a good mother.

I was unsure while I was pregnant too. She never seemed totally involved in the pregnancy and was reluctant to talk about the baby in the future tense, how it would be when she was here. But when DD was born, she burst into tears and the look in her eyes made me wonder why I had ever doubted her.