Takeaways
Practical Preparation: The article provides a first-time father checklist with practical tips for soon-to-be dads.
Skills for New Dads: The Article highlights essential baby care skills like swaddling and diaper changing and why newborn fathers need these skills.
Inspiring Fatherhood Quotes: Shares motivational and heartfelt quotes about becoming a father for the first time.
Cocoon Care Support: Showcases Cocoon Care’s baby-friendly products and resources to help dads-to-be to prepare for their fatherhood with confidence.
Welcoming a new baby into your family is a joyful and exciting time. But it also comes with many questions and doubts. How to prepare for the baby’s arrival? How to be a perfect dad? As a dad-to-be, you might wonder how to handle all these changes that are coming your way. This guide by Cocoon Care will give simple tips for soon-to-be dads to help you confidently step into fatherhood.
How does it feel to be a father for the first time?
Becoming a father for the first time is one of the most unforgettable moments of your life. As a newborn father, you will go through many emotions — happiness, fear, pride and a sense of responsibility. You will want to protect your tiny baby and might worry about your partner’s health too. It is a life-changing journey that will transform you completely. Once you hold your baby in your arms, you’ll wonder why you waited so long for this beautiful experience.
First Time Father Checklist
The father’s role in newborn care is not small. There is a lot to do and it helps to prepare as much as you can. Here is a checklist for soon-to-be dads to help you along the way.
Get Organised
How to prepare for the baby's arrival? Start by making your home ready for the little one. Create a little nursery or a special space for your baby in your house. Keep enough stock of all newborn essentials like clothes, diapers and feeding supplies. Being organized as a dad-to-be will reduce stress when the baby is home.
Get Involved
Fatherhood starts long before the baby arrives. Get involved by joining your partner for doctor's appointments, attending birthing classes and reading baby books. This will help you learn about the father’s role in newborn care and what to expect in the coming months. Getting involved will strengthen your bond with both your baby and your partner.
Be Considerate Towards Your Partner
No one can deny the fact that more than newborn fathers, mothers are the ones experiencing major physical and emotional changes in parenthood. Your support matters a lot to your partner. Help with household tasks, prepare meals and listen to them. You can ease their load and be a supportive partner by taking up some responsibilities and making parenthood a lot easier for both.
Don't Get Overwhelmed With Changes Happening
There are a lot of changes happening while becoming a father for the first time and it is natural to feel drowned in it. Take one step at a time and focus on small wins like getting your crying baby to sleep or swaddling them. It is alright to ask for help from friends, family or parenting groups. They will happily provide tips for soon-to-be dads.
Take Care Of Yourself
Yes, the focus is entirely on the baby. But that doesn’t mean you as a newborn father have to be burned out in the process. Take good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat healthy and make time for yourself. Staying healthy ensures that you have the energy to take care of your little one and support your partner.
Keep A Check On Work-Life Balance
Set boundaries and give priority to your family at this time. Soon-to-be dads have to find a balance between work and home life by building a schedule that works for everyone. This will ensure that you have quality time with your baby without affecting your professional life.
Choose Baby Gears
Choosing baby gear is also a part of getting organised. Focus on quality, convenience and safety when focusing on how to prepare for the baby's arrival. Invest in baby gear like a sturdy crib, car seat, stroller and baby sleep sacks. These essentials will go a long way as babies will use them till their toddlerhood or even more. Cocoon Care’s swaddle-out sleep pod goes a long way and also helps the baby transition from sleeping pods to blankets.
Basics To Learn Before Your Newborn’s Arrival
It is time to learn new skills. Here are some basics to learn before your newborn’s arrival. They are smart tips for dads-to-be to make things easier.
Swaddling
Swaddling helps your baby to feel the warmth and comfort they had in the womb. It controls the startle reflex and helps them sleep longer. Newborn fathers can practise wrapping their babies in high-quality swaddles that are soft and breathable. Neither too tight nor too loose. You will soon find the perfect way to wrap your burrito!
Read our month-by-month breakdown guide on swaddling to learn more about swaddling at each stage of the baby’s growth.
Changing Diapers and Nappies
It is good to be prepared for this as a dad-to-be. It is something you are going to do day in and day out. Keep everything handy like wipes, diapers and nappies. Choose baby products that do not harm their delicate skin. Baby nappies from Cocoon Care are made of bamboo muslin cloth which is gentle on your baby’s skin and does not cause rashes.
Holding Baby
These fragile little ones need to be held right while lifting them. Always support their neck and head while holding. Newborn fathers should make sure that their hands are clean and sanitized and baby is wearing a soft and comfortable dress like a muslin jabla.
Bathing Baby Safely
Your newborn does not need a daily bath. A great tip for dads-to-be is that you can use a washcloth to gently wipe them clean. Occasionally, give them a quick bath in lukewarm water. Hold your baby secure while supporting their head even while bathing. Gently dry them with soft and absorbent bath towels later.
How to Calm A Fussy Baby
Soon-to-be dads need to know that babies cry when they are hungry, sleepy or have any discomfort. You will soon learn how to read their cues and solve them. Feed them if hungry and burp them. Soothe them in a gentle voice, wrap them in soft and breathable infant winter blankets and rock. You may also swaddle them if they are sleepy.
Baby Proofing The House
The father’s role in newborn care also involves making your home safe for the baby by securing sharp edges and covering electrical plugs and wires. Keep small objects out of their reach. Though it may not be immediately required, this is an essential safety step as they grow.
Setting Up A Space For Baby’s Sound Sleep
Promote better sleep for babies by letting them sleep in a peaceful environment. Let them sleep in a quiet and dimly lit room. As a newborn father, ensure that there are no loose items or clothes on the bed or crib. Cocoon Care’s sleep pods are great for keeping your baby comfortably sleeping throughout the night.
Choosing Safe & Soft Baby Clothing
Your baby needs breathable fabrics as they cannot regulate their body temperature in the early days. When choosing newborn clothing as a part of preparing for the baby’s arrival, look for soft breathable fabrics like bamboo muslin cloth. You can layer them for warmth without getting overheated. Use baby mittens and booties to keep them warm in colder seasons.
How To Burp A Baby
Burping helps a baby release the air bubbles they swallow during feeding. Place your baby upright on your shoulder and pat with a cupped hand on their back. Use a burp cloth to catch the spill and to protect your outfit while burping.
We have a blog on burping techniques and tips for dads-to-be to find out what burping method suits your little one.
Becoming a Father For The First Time Quotes
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Becoming a dad is one thing—being a dad is many things. – Steve Chapman
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Anyone who tells you fatherhood is the greatest thing that can happen to you, they are understanding it. — Mike Myers
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Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song. – Pam Brown
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Being a father is a huge responsibility, but a satisfying one. – Pierce Brosnan
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Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. —Frank Pittman
Conclusion
As you prepare for your fatherhood journey, remember that it is not about how to be a perfect dad. It is about how to be a better dad. The whole journey is a learning process that can make you a better dad with each passing day.
At Cocoon Care, we support you in your journey from becoming a dad to being a dad by bringing the best baby clothes and newborn baby products.!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is being a new dad hard?
Being a new dad is challenging. With a little support, preparation and managing your time and energy, you can perfectly fit into a father’s role in newborn care and more.
What should dads do to prepare for the baby’s arrival?
Dads-to-be can prepare by organising baby essentials, learning new skills for the baby and supporting their partner. Read our first-time father checklist for great tips for soon-to-be dads.
What advice to give a new dad?
Be present and involved. Support your partner and bond with your baby. Take care of yourself and ask for help if needed. Focus on how to be a better dad rather than how to be a perfect dad.
