First-Time Fatherhood: What New Dads Should Expect?

Fathers have their own way to become hands-on in terms of taking care of their children. Dads shouldn't need to be perfect as everyone with kids was a new parent once and had to cope with being a parent.

Therefore, it is okay if you don't know what to do at first as you are a first-time dad and your feelings are valid.

Almost all of your time will be spent with your new boy but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice things that are important to you. Talk to your partner and create a schedule that allows both of you to have alone time and for yourself as well considering that being a dad is hard. Life would look so different with a baby hence first-time dads can still find ways to have some time for themselves.

Fathers who live in America are now taking a more active role in caring for their children and are more helpful in house chores as fatherhood in America varies, per Pew Research Center.

According to a study published on August 30 in Human Reproduction that made use of a federal repository of almost 170 million birth records to determine the age of dads and found that 30.9 years old is the average dad and 9 percent of newborns fathers are approximately 40 years old.

Recognizing first-time dads' feelings

According to Deborah Krahl, M.D., of The Mother Baby Center, it is only normal for first-time dads to feel nervous and anxious as they are new to it but will gradually get the hang of it. Fathers need to be familiar first with the surroundings and things to expect for each stage of being a dad as they will feel more relaxed when things happen.

In terms of eating, Sunny Carlisle, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and a DONA (Doulas of North America) International Certified Birth Doula states that although understandably, they are first-time dads, they must bear in mind that the baby's stomach is tiny, therefore, the required volume of feeding is also small but it will change after few days.

After the baby was born, the stomach is just about the size of a marble and can only take about one teaspoon. On the 10th day of the newborn, their stomach is like a large egg and can take about four tablespoons. This being said, the amount the baby should eat is important and they must not be forced to eat almost everything considering the size of the stomach, per Parents.

Read Also: Acknowledging the Efforts of Single Father in the Family

Things father must know how to do

Newborn babies should have at least one wet diaper by the end of the first day of life and will increase to 5-6 wet diapers by the end of their first week. As a matter of fact, dirty diapers vary depending on whether the infant is breastfed or formula-fed. Normally, one wet diaper is the firm guideline in the first week according to Carlisle. A breastfed baby, on the other hand, may have one to twelve small tools each day.

Baby boys turn their peeing into fountains when cold air struck their little tummies, therefore, make protection using the front of the diaper. Pam McMurtry, a mom, and a book author said that fathers must prepare a hand towel as baby girls need to have their private parts wiped starting from front to back. Also, don't allow babies to stay too long in a wet diaper as they can get a rash from it and it would be hard for them to potty train.

According to What to Expect, a couple must start to share duties considering that a woman's body will need a lot of time to completely recover, regardless of the delivery. Dads should take roles while mothers are taking some rest.

Related Article: Two Important Parenting Tips for New Dads