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First of all, welcome to parenthood! Having a baby is one of the most beautiful and out-of-the-world experiences in your life. You felt your life would change when your doctor confirmed that you were pregnant, and it was a feeling you had never experienced before. While parenthood is a shared experience, in real life, we find dads walking two steps behind moms. This is probably why we call our moms most of the time, and we call our dads only to ask where mom is!
With time, new dads are doing their best to be involved and be productive in their quest to raise a baby. But, for one thing, men are mostly clueless about most things! If you are a dad-to-be and want to participate actively in parenthood, here are a few ways to support your wife and partner in bringing up your baby in the most amazing way. Read on to know them all.
1. Be Understanding
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Yes, you can’t nurse the baby, and even if your wife is dead tired, you will have to see her wake up again to feed the baby. It can be frustrating to see your wife sleep-deprived while you can easily sleep. However, nursing is not the only thing your child needs. You can take all the other works like spit-up duty, bottles, diaper changes, and baths. This will give time for the new mom to rest, and it will also be a good bonding time for you and the baby.
2. Let The Mom Sleep
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If you love your wife, let her sleep! Nothing is a better gift to your wife other than letting her sleep undisturbed for a few hours. The recovery after birth happens only when she sleeps, and it is hard for a new mom to do it alone. This is when the dad has to step in and take up the other responsibilities and let the mom snooze off.
3. Keep Other Kids Entertained
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A new mother will always be preoccupied with the new baby, and if you have other kids, it’s the job of a father to keep them entertained. Kids cannot understand the sudden drop in attention and will see the baby as an enemy. Before that happens, you must give your kids a lot of attention, so they don’t feel any change with the new baby in the house.
4. Manage The House
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All said and done, the wife knows where exactly things are kept in the house. When the wife gets promoted to the new mom, you need to take over her duties and manage the entire household without disturbing her. Be it stocking the vegetables, packing your kid’s lunch, or getting them dressed for school, it is you who needs to do them so your wife can focus on resting and nursing for the child.
5. Manage The Visitors
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A new baby in the house means a lot of visitors. It can be your family, friends, or even neighbors. You need to be an active host and entertain them all. Also, a baby in the house means a change of norms. You need to make sure the guests wash their hands and don’t walk in with their muddy shoes. Keep the volume low and keep the snacks ready that you intend to serve your guests.
6. Spend Time With The Baby
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Spend quality time with your baby, even when he is just a bundle who sees a blurry version of you. Read stories from a book, practice walking with the baby carrier, rock the baby, make silly faces, wrap the baby and even put the baby to sleep.
7. Talk To Your Partner
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It is essential to talk to your partner about topics that do not include a baby. Suddenly everything surrounding you is about the baby. Even your friends will get tired of seeing baby pics all the time. It’s healthy to divert from the topic and think about other things.
8. Don’t Jump To Help
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Yes, this one needs a bit further explanation. For most reasons, babies cry and finding the reason can be tricky. We know you are all alert with the daddy senses activated, but the first cry may not be a reason to panic. You will have to be calm and handle every situation. You need to look for signs like allergies or hunger before panicking and ringing the pediatrician.
9. Take Photo Duty
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Once you have a baby, your relatives and friends will constantly bug you for baby pics, so you need to take active photo duty. Click some adorable pictures of your baby and keep them stacked for every time someone craves a baby.
Being a dad is never an easy task, and it takes more than what you thought you could give. The best way to parent your child is to do a lot of research and count on your own instincts. It’s the time when your family looks up to you for support and protection, and you couldn’t be more proud to be a dad. So, do you know any other way in which you can be a great help to your newborn? Let us know in the comments section!
