Baby Care Tips for Dads
Congratulations! You are now or about to become a dad! It is a significant change in life to take care of both a child and your wife. Learn a few advice for new dads on how to better cope with this new aspect of your life – parenthood.
Dads usually feel like the secondary parent in the early days of pregnancy. Maybe you’re one of the dads who are taking a back seat and letting their partners handle the pregnancy and the baby. But a lot has changed from the dark ages where childcare is solely the women’s duties. Nowadays, dads play a more active, if not an equal role in raising children. Although moms are more directly affected through pregnancy and birth, dads can play an important role.
You will not want to miss the fun! Here are a few baby care tips and tricks for dads:
- Sing A song
Singing a song or lullaby is one of the effective methods to get a baby to respond and be alert, and it doesn’t matter how you perform or how fantastic your voice is.
- Relax and Take A Break
Take a break as things are tough. There are days when the world is driving you mad: the kid screams, the alarm blows, the milk heats, and the wife is grumpy. Turn off the burner, go outside, and take as many deep breaths as you can before stepping back into the fray.
- Save Some Extra Patience
Be extra careful, supportive and stay in touch with your girlfriend or wife. The birth can be unpleasant, and hormones can start to fluctuate during labour and even after birthing. Patience is the key to develop a strong relationship between you, your wife, and the baby.
- Soothing Your Newborn
For your baby, life outside the womb will still be hard. And crying is their way of letting you know if they are uncomfortable in any way. You’ll have to confirm whether your child’s hungry, freezing, or uncomfortable. Lift him or her to the left and hold gently, swinging from side to side while talking in low hushed tones. You can also proceed to sing softly.
- Help Your Baby Burp
The best way to burp a baby is to hold him upright, against your chest with his head nestled on your shoulder. Pat him gently on the back until the burps come out. Sometimes it will be cute little urps; occasionally, it will be window-rattling blaaarrrps!
- Checking the Temperature of Your Baby
Taking their temperature is a good way to check if your baby is sick. Learn how to use and read thermometers. There might also be occasions where you will need to use rectal thermometers on your baby. These are more intrusive and may be uncomfortable for infants, so make sure you ask your pediatrician to show you the proper way.
- Baby Bathing
The frequency of bathing a baby depends on the age and condition of the child. For inexperienced dads, it is best to indulge in this adorable ritual when the baby is perfectly fine. Prepare the towels, heat the water to the ideal temperature, and close-up windows and doors to prevent drafts. Make sure to use the appropriate baby bathing toiletries. Don’t hesitate to ask for your wife’s assistance and make it a wonderful family activity.
- Helping Your Baby Sleep
Make sure the baby is fed and cleaned before putting him to bed. The baby’s clothing fits snugly and comfortably. Swaddling the kid before bed helps him feel comfortable and safe. The sheets and covers should fit securely over the crib mattress. Singing lullabies and mobile tunes can help them go to sleep.
- Play with Your Baby
Playing with your baby is the easiest way to bond with him or her. Your baby spends most of their waking hours discovering the world, and one way they learn is by playing. Read to your baby, sing songs with a soothing voice, dance him or her across the room gently, keep a toy to focus on and chat with them in changing and humorous voices.
A baby will change your life immensely. Fatherhood can be engrossing, compelling, and powerful. You will be drawn to your child and be obsessed. Enjoy fatherhood and your baby while you can. However, you must also try not to lose yourself in the process. Do not place the rest of your life on hold. You have got to take care of your newest son or daughter, but you also have to keep a little time and attention to yourself. Find a way to spend time doing what you always love – keep a hobby, go on date nights, or indulge in an uninterrupted ‘me’ time, even if it is short. Do not lose the things that make you, you. Someday, you will have the chance to share it with your child.