Attention all new and soon-to-be dads! Welcome to the world of fatherhood. It’s an incredible journey filled with ups and downs. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered some crucial tips to make this experience a little smoother. Here are a few things that, looking back, would have been really good to know from the get-go:
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- Be prepared for sleepless nights. Newborn babies wake up every two hours like clockwork, demanding to be fed. So, say goodbye to those solid blocks of sleep and get ready to embrace the long hours of being awake, you are nocturnal now. This is called “on demand feeding” – they dictate the schedule (look at them, they are the captain now). At times, they’ll spiral into a different feeding pattern too where they want it every hour, that’s called “cluster feeding” and it’ll happen at hours unfit for human beings. I knew babies made sleeping tough but I didn’t know that it was a 2 hour cycle or how often they fed, now you know!
- Don’t be taken aback when you see your baby’s poop during those first 24 hours. It may look like black tar, but don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal. It’s just their system adjusting to life outside the womb. Your mission, which you will accept, will be to keep that rear-end dry. You will be changing the diapies every hour on the hour (every 1-2 hours). Get ready for unforgettable experiences.
- Get yourself a diaper bag with plenty of compartments and easy access. Believe me, when you’re in the midst of a diaper emergency, you’ll thank me for this tip. Look for a bag that lets you grab what you need in a flash, without fumbling around and causing chaos. Here’s one that has dedicated compartments for the different things you’ll be lugging around.
- Pack that thing like a pro, my friend. Fill it up with wipes, formula or breast milk (depending on your baby’s feeding needs), diapers (lots of them), a bottle of water for mixing, a change of clothes for unexpected messes, some handy hand towels, and of course, a few pacifiers to calm the little guy (always have extras). Having all these supplies at your fingertips will make life outside of the house feasible.
One thing I recommend picking up if you’ll be using formula is this multi-compartment dispenser/container, it’ll help keep your formula powder from getting everywhere and reduce the number of containers you’ll need to carry in your diaper bag. - Let me drop a little secret on you: Your insurance company might cover the cost of a breast pump. Yup, that’s right! So, don’t hesitate to give them a call and find out your options. Having a portable breast pump for your wife can be a game-changer, especially when she needs to pump on the go. Our insurance fully covered the cost of an electric Spectra brand breast pump, we got the version with a wall cord but I recommend you go for the portable version here, on the next go around that’s what we’ll do. Trust me, you’ll want to ensure your wife has easy access to milk whenever the baby needs it.
- Milk management, that’s about to be your new number one priority. Newborn babies survive on milk alone, whether it’s breast milk or formula. So, whether you choose one or go for a hybrid approach, make sure you keep that milk supply ready at all times. Your little one will need to be fed every two to three hours, and trust me, they won’t hesitate to let you know when it’s mealtime.
One thing I recommend you pick up would be a bottle warmer. You’ll be preserving breast milk in the fridge and that’s great, but your baby is going to want it warm. When the baby is screaming in your wives ear you don’t want to be in the kitchen struggling to McGyver warm milk from a cold bottle. Here’s the bottle warmer that worked for us: - Here’s the truth about breastfeeding—it’s not always a walk in the park. Both babies and mothers can face challenges getting started. And if there’s too much time between feedings, milk production can even slow down. That’s where a breast pump comes in. Your wife may need to use it to keep the milk flowing, and that means she’ll have to stop what she’s doing and pump every two hours. It can be inconvenient, but remember, your support is crucial here. Keep those pump bottles, funnels, and cables squeaky clean and ready to go for each pumping session. Stock up on extra parts so there are always a few clean ones at the ready.
If you go for the Spectra pump you can order some extra parts here, a little extra prep here will pay off. - Now, let’s talk about “tummy time.” You’ll want to incorporate this into your baby’s routine early on. It’s when you turn your little one over onto their stomach to help with their motor function development. Here’s the catch—most babies don’t exactly enjoy this special time. But hey, it’s good for them, and it paves the way for successful crawling in the future. So, prepare yourself mentally to watch them struggle but keep in mind that it’s all for their growth and development.
Baby Davis was not a fan. - Picture this: a reliable baby monitor that keeps an eye on your little munchkin all night long. Sounds amazing, right? Well, let me tell you about the Infant Optics monitor. It’s a gem. I highly recommend putting it on your registry. This trusty device has been our rock for almost two years now. We never turn it off, and guess what? We’ve had zero problems with the video feed. I have no qualms plugging this baby monitor, it’s amazing – in fact, I’ve thought about setting these up all over my house for live video surveillance.
- Transition to the crib. Here’s what worked for me and my wife. From day one, we kept some sleep separation. Our baby slept in a bassinet right next to our bed, but not in the bed or too close to it. We also draped a muslin blanket over the top of the bassinet, allowing a bit of privacy even though we were just a few steps away.
After about a month, we made the move to our baby’s own nursery room and crib. Now, remember, the timing of this transition will vary based on your situation, tolerance levels, and your baby’s needs. But for us, it was a game-changer. Just a couple of nights in the crib, and our baby was as comfortable as ever, sleeping just as well as they did in the bassinet. Plus, having the baby in their own room gave us some much-needed personal time for basic hygiene, food, and rest. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Take these tips with you on your fatherhood adventure. Embrace the sleepless nights, expect the unexpected, and savor every moment with your little bundle of joy. Remember, every baby is different, so adjust these tips to fit your family’s needs. And above all, treasure this special time—it flies by in the blink of an eye!
