New dad on the block? Don’t worry, these 7 tips will have you covered. Read on and find out how you can be the best version of yourself for your family!
It’s very common for new dads to find it hard to cope within the first few weeks and months of their journey in being a father. It’s a new reality that many first-time dads have no way to accurately prepare for. Even if you’ve tried to get ready for months in advance, it can still be a challenging role to fully embrace.
This article will help you take that step from being a husband or a partner to a fully operating dad – equipped with the secret knowledge that all new dads should know. Remember, it’s ok to have questions, being open and proactive is key to creating the right mindset towards becoming a full-fledged dad!
7 Practical Things A New Dad Can Do To Create A Positive Influence At Home
1. A Mindset Shift
You’ll struggle to come to terms with finding your new normal if you don’t come to terms with the inescapable fact that life is different now.
Remembering how much easier it was before the baby arrived and how much spare time you had is useful but not relevant. If you want to transition into your new role fast, try to consider the future and how resourceful you can be.
2. Roll Your Sleeves (Sooner rather than later)
Many dad’s try to avoid everyday duties but they do not realise that this does more harm than good. If you duck and dive out of your responsibilities you are not only making it more troublesome for your other half, but you also miss out on bonding with your new baby.
Let’s take changing diapers as an example. You can make this your main duty as it can be done day or night and is an ongoing task.
Think of it as special bonding time for you and your newborn and get creative with this role. Sing, dance and pull funny faces to keep your baby engaged and occupied while you get down to business!
3. Empathy Rules!
Many men find it difficult to deal with continued no intimacy rules. While being intimate is normal pre-pregnancy, (and is often recommended) post-pregnancy, things can change rapidly.
Having a baby changes the dynamic of a relationship and you have to remember that their needs will always come first.
Furthermore, your partner’s body will have changed significantly during pregnancy, childbirth and will need time to heal.
4. Always Keep Trying
Being a new dad creates a world of new tasks and duties. These new roles are opportunities for dads to take the reins and learn more about themselves and their babies.
Young babies will naturally need more mummy time especially if they are breastfeeding. Although this is outside of your duties, there are other things that you can do to help out:
Things like: preparing baby clothes, preparing babies bags, sterilising bottles, burping duties & playtime duties among others.
Always keep looking for productive ways to help. In the long run, you’ll get better at the day to day tasks and will be taking a huge load off your partners back.
5. Never be afraid to ask for help
Asking for help is a significant requirement for all new dads. However, some dads suffer from the “know it all” syndrome. Other, may be too proud to ask for help. Either way, asking for assistance regularly is an important requirement for successful parenting.
It’s likely someone you know would have gone through some or all of what you are going through and can provide some insight or tips to make things more manageable.
Seek out knowledge from senior family members & friends who have kids or even local community and religious leaders.
6. Pause Your Social Life
New dads should spend as much time at home in the early days as possible. Finding your feet as a parent can be hard and you must be around to provide basic assistance to your partner.
Keep friends and other social events on pause for a bit. You’ll only be missing out on a few events and those that truly love you will understand.
7. Don’t forget about 1 on 1 time!
It’s not uncommon for both parents to go through a big change both intellectually and physically when they have a newborn baby. While this is normal, you need to remember that finding your new normal doesn’t mean letting go of all of the former you.
Find time to remember all of the little things that you appreciate about your spouse.
Simple things like running a warm bath, rubbing her feet or doing more daily tasks around the house won’t go unnoticed.
About the Guest Author
Mo Mulla is a work from home dad who enjoys reading and listening to music. He loves being a dad and husband to a growing family. He loves writing about his passions and hopes to change the world, 1 blog post at a time! You can find his parenting blog here: ParentalQuestions.com
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