Becoming the best dad requires a combination of love, dedication, and commitment. Here are some tips that can help you become the best dad possible:
- Be present: Spend time with your children, listen to them, and engage with them. Show interest in their lives, and make them feel important.
- Be patient: Being a good dad requires patience. Understand that your children are still learning and growing, and they may make mistakes along the way.
- Be supportive: Encourage your children to pursue their interests and passions. Be there for them when they need you, and offer guidance and support.
- Be a good role model: Your children look up to you, so set a good example for them. Demonstrate good values and behavior, and live your life in a way that you want your children to emulate.
- Communicate effectively: Communication is key in any relationship, and it is especially important in the parent-child relationship. Listen to your children, and communicate with them in a way that they can understand.
- Show affection: Physical touch and words of affirmation are important for children. Show them love and affection, and let them know how much you care about them.
- Be consistent: Consistency is important for children, so establish rules and boundaries, and stick to them. This will help your children feel safe and secure. Remember, being the best dad is not about being perfect. It’s about showing up every day and doing your best to love and support your children.
First-time Dad
With the right advice and support, you can make the most of this new change and enjoy all that comes with being a first-time dad.
You are about to become a father for the first time. Congratulations! While this can be one of the happiest times in your life, it can also be a very emotional and confusing experience.
Having a baby will impact your free time outside of work, but you should not ‘wreck your social life’ if you are organized and plan your time well. Before, you could both come and go as much as you pleased. You must learn to negotiate breaks and check in with your partner. The baby’s needs can be overwhelming early on, but it is essential to remember that your needs and those of your partner are also still important. Talk to your partner about how you are feeling, and don’t forget to check in with how she’s going too: you’re in this together.
Becoming a father may raise all sorts of pressures about being a provider, protector, engaged dad, and working hard simultaneously — the balance can be challenging. Moreover, if you want to do things differently from how you were fathered, you must work it out from scratch. This can mean seeking information or support, which many men aren’t used to.
First-time Dad?Try not to feel that you’re “on the outside.”
At the start, it may feel as though your partner has more of a role in caring for your new child, especially if she is breastfeeding. But being part of the mint family unit is about teamwork. Your role in looking after the house, fielding telephone calls when your partner is trying to get some sleep, or going to the shops for new nappies is just as crucial to the family unit as feeding the baby.
You may feel more part of the family if you get involved initially. Some ways to do this could be:
- Attending antenatal classes
- Being present at the birth
- Learning how to change a nappy
- Finding out what is needed to look after a baby
- Speaking to any other fathers that you know
- As well as helping your partner, it will help you to feel part of the parenthood process.
Being a first-time dad and Sex:-
- Don’t forget about your partner during this time. While sex may not be on the agenda straight away, don’t forget to show your affection and love for your partner during this challenging time. Sex might be the last thing on her mind in the early stages. Both sex drives will return to normal, and you must give it time. Her body has undergone significant changes and will need time to readjust. Her breasts will be full of milk for the baby, so finding comfortable positions for both of you may be challenging. Talking honestly with your partner about what you’re comfortable with is essential.
- Look after yourself.
Believe it or not, dads are liable to get a dose of the “baby blues” despite not physically giving birth. Studies have shown that male partners can experience significant hormonal changes and, coupled with the lack of sleep that comes with looking after a newborn, the first-time dad needs to look after himself. - Support networks
Don’t forget about your mates! Do any of your friends have children? They will be a great source of advice, ideas, and support through difficult times, as they will likely have experienced many of the same things. Learn from them about how you can do something with your partner and new child, and find ways to spend time with your mates and your child! You may find that you become closer to your parents as you gain a better understanding of their perspective as parents. - If you feel down:
Make sure you eat regularly and think about good food choices, and limit your alcohol intake
Regular exercise can help to get you out of the house and make you feel better (put the baby in the pram and get outside!)
Being a Young Father
Six tips for Dads
- Never give up on yourself: you have to be in peak condition to be a good Dad, so taking care of yourself is a significant priority.
- Never be ashamed to ask for help: being a parent is tough, and men don’t have the networks that women do for support. Seek out networks of support, or start your own. Reach out for help, and receive it when it comes your way.
- You’re responsible for these kids: own it. Take that responsibility by the horns and run with it. If you’re scared, remember people have been doing this parenting thing for hundreds of years. The only way to fail at it is not to try.
- Educate yourself: read all of the books (from the library if need be), whether they’re for dads, mums, parents, or teachers. Get your hands on any information, including the internet and your peers. Never stop learning.
- When navigating a relationship with the mother/your ex/the grandparents, remember that the kids are the most critical part of this. Sometimes you must take the high road, bite your tongue, and get on with things. As Win shares, “Breakups are hard and messy but try to be an adult and mature about the whole situation. As a father, you have to respect how difficult it is being a mother and that they are the mother to your children, so treat them with respect and love. I know it’s easier said than done but try.”
- The best thing a Dad can do is show up. Put to be there, whether that’s a regular phone call, going to sports events, or showing up to school assembly once a term. Prioritise being available and being present.