At the end of your wife's pregnancy, you probably thought you were going to have to wait a few months before you got to see your baby. Now that you're in the home stretch, it feels like that time has come and gone! You've watched your wife go through labor and bring a new person into the world, but now it's your turn to help out with things around the house. The good news is, there are plenty of ways for new dads to get involved with taking care of their new baby without having any prior experience or training. Here are some ideas:
Help to change diapers.
Changing a diaper is one of the most important new dad duties. It's also a great way for you and your partner to bond with your baby, especially if he or she is awake and alert.
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Wash your hands before touching the diaper.
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Change diapers when babies are awake, alert and not crying or fussing too much (this helps keep them from getting overstimulated).
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Choose an appropriate changing surface: A clean surface that's free of clutter will make it easier to find things like wipes or ointment in case of an emergency (such as when poop gets stuck on something).
Help to bathe your baby.
Bathing your newborn is a great way to bond with them. You can use a warm washcloth and gently rub their face and body, or even put them in the bathtub if you want to get fancy with it. Just remember not to get any water in their ears; that's very dangerous! Also make sure the water is warm enough--you don't want it too hot or too cold for your baby's sensitive skin (and no soap on the face either). And finally: keep an eye on them at all times so they don't drown!
Roast a chicken or make lasagna.
Roast a chicken or make lasagna.
Both of these meals are great for new dads because they're simple to prepare and require little supervision. The smell of food will be more enticing than the sound of your crying baby, and you can take breaks from feeding and burping him if you need them.
Run an errand for mom, such as grocery shopping.
You can help out with the kids while mom is grocery shopping. If your wife has a newborn, she may not feel up to going out and about just yet. She'll be happy to have you keep an eye on the little ones while she runs errands. You can even help carry bags or keep them entertained in the cart with some toys!
You should also offer to plan meals for the week if your spouse gets overwhelmed by all of the cooking that needs to be done.
Pack your wife's lunch for the next day.
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Pack your wife's lunch for the next day.
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Make sure it's in a bag that is easy to carry, and include a snack and water to drink.
This is one of those things that you can do while you're watching TV or playing with your kids, so it won't feel like work at all!
Prepare meals for the family.
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Prepare meals for the family.
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Make sure you have all of the equipment needed to cook and serve food, such as a cutting board, sharp knives and a whisk.
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Get familiar with your oven's settings so that you can use them when cooking for yourself or others.
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Look up recipes online or in books before attempting them on your own; this will help ensure that everyone enjoys the meal!
Make breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family.
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Make breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family.
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If you don't know what your wife likes, ask her. She'll probably be happy to tell you. Or maybe she already told you, but it got lost in the excitement of all the baby stuff going on around her brain?
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If your baby isn't old enough to tell us what she wants (which is fine!), try making some guesses based on what foods have worked well in past experiences with other children--but keep in mind that babies are individuals too! The more variety there is in their diet at this age, the better off they'll be when they're older (and pickier).
New dads can help out a lot if they want to be helpful
As a new dad, you can help out a lot by doing the following things.
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Offer to change diapers. You might be surprised at how frequently this is needed! It's not just about changing diapers; it's also about keeping your baby's bottom clean by washing off any poop that gets on her skin after she goes potty.
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Be ready with food and drink when Mom needs them (and vice versa). In addition to being a great way for new moms and dads to catch up with each other during those first few weeks after birth, sharing meals allows both parents to take breaks from caring for their newborns while still providing nourishment and hydration--which may come in handy later when one or both parents are feeling exhausted from lack of sleep due to nighttime feedings or other reasons like teething pain!
We hope these ideas have been helpful, and we wish you a happy and successful journey into fatherhood!
