First Time Dad Advice To Enjoy Your Baby

Being a dad is a blessing, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always feel that way, especially at first.

From the moment you bring your baby home from the hospital, many experiences will take you away from the joys of being a father. If you’re reading this right now, chances are you’d like some first-time dad tips on enjoying your newborn.

Luckily, we at Dad University have helped thousands of first-time dads enjoy their babies and the duties that come with being a father.

Stick around and check out these eight pieces of first-time dad advice for enjoying your baby.

By the end of this, you’ll find more reasons to be happy about being a dad and be in a more positive headspace in your new role.

Let’s get into it!

1. Be Present

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking about what could have or should have been leading to your child’s birth. You’ll also likely anticipate how your child will turn out or what the future may bring. As a new dad, avoid fixating on the past or future and be present instead.

Being present means enjoying every moment with your newborn baby. Whether you’re changing a diaper or watching your new bundle of joy sleep, being present is an essential step to enjoying your baby.

Why?

Because these precious moments won’t last forever and will be some of the most fondest memories of your life — even if it doesn’t seem that way now.

2. You Don’t Need Everything

If you’re like many new dads, money is going to be a major consideration. Hence, you’ll have to save your hard-earned money and not give in to the urge to buy everything for your new baby.

Indeed, there are essentials that you need to get like a crib and food for your newborn. However, once you’ve gotten the essentials, the rest is just bells and whistles.

Anything you purchase beyond the must-haves may just be out of impulse. Spend unnecessarily and you’ll add more financial strain to yourself and, in turn, enjoy your new fatherhood role less.

3. Remember That Nothing Is Forever

As a new dad, you’ll have moments which you’ll just wish were over. These moments can be anything from dealing with your newborn crying at three in the morning to unpleasant diaper changes or feedings.

Nevertheless, there will also be fun and memorable moments like your baby’s first word or taking them to the park.

Whatever the case may be, know that none of these moments will last forever. By remembering this, you’ll be less likely to take these precious times with your newborn for granted.

You’ll also be less likely to be impatient (we’ll talk about this later) with your newborn. When you recognize that every event is passing, you’ll know that there’s an end to every unpleasant experience.

For example, when your baby cries at two or three in the morning, all you need to do is wait it out.

Will the crying stop? You bet! And it’s because nothing lasts forever.

4. Don’t Take Things Personally

We can sum up your baby’s routine in these words:

“Eat, sleep, cry, poop, repeat.”

Much as you likely hate it when your baby does this, keep in mind that your newborn isn’t out to get you. Rather, everything your newborn does is simply what a typical baby does, regardless of who’s around.

Also, don’t take things personally when mom seems to be the preferred caregiver. Just spend as much time as you can with the baby and things will go your way eventually. All it takes is not making things about you and being patient.

And this brings us to the next piece of first-time dad advice.

5. Be Patient

When you’ve got children, patience is the first quality you should develop. This is because having a child exposes you to a range of situations that will trigger you if you haven’t cultivated understanding and tolerance.

The secret to being patient is knowing that unpleasant experiences don’t last forever and that your newborn simply doesn’t know any better. Remember this, and you’ll be even more present for your child, which leads to you being an amazing dad.

6. Spend as Much Quality Time as Possible

Patience (see tip #5) doesn’t just enable you to retain your sanity — it’s also essential as you try to spend as much quality time with your newborn as possible.

Quality time doesn’t just mean the most amount of time you can spend. After all, spending too much time with a newborn isn’t always in the cards for first-time dads as they balance between work and other responsibilities.

When we at Dad University say quality time, we mean being fully in the moment with your baby each time, free from your phone, work, or other distractions.

As you spend quality time with your newborn, you’ll relish each moment as a new dad. Once again, these moments won’t last forever, so cherish them while you can.

7. Get Along With Mom

Whether you’re separated or married, being on good terms with mom makes a difference in your fatherhood journey. A positive relationship with mom helps you spread out responsibilities, making your life as a first-time dad easier.

Of course, you may not be living with the mother of your child, especially if you’re a single dad or if you’ve just divorced. Nevertheless, you should still keep things civil with mom. After all, it’s all for the baby.

8. Accept Your Mistakes

No matter how well you try, you’ll always make mistakes — and that’s OK!

Nobody is immune to error, which is why you need to be easy on yourself whenever you make mistakes.

Being forgiving of yourself doesn’t mean not having standards — it means having them but recognizing that it’s OK for you to come short once in a while.

By accepting your mistakes, you’ll adopt a growth mindset, where every setback becomes an opportunity for learning and being a better father.

Key Takeaway: Enjoy These Precious Moments While You Can

These precious moments with your newborn will be some of the most meaningful experiences of your life — enjoy them while you can, because they won’t last forever. Before you know it, you’ll be giving your child their last bath or swaddling them for the last time.

In short, take nothing for granted. And if you need some extra help, we’ve got your back.

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