Congratulations on becoming a new dad. The journey of parenthood is filled with ups and downs and it is tough to navigate without a manual. Kudos to you for thinking about how you can become a hands-on parent with your bundle of joy. A dad’s contribution to parenting is often neglected. It is one of the reasons that we have limited support and resources to help dads up their game as a parent. In this article, you will find 50 helpful, new dad tips to make your journey a little easier.

1. Accept and embrace the change of being a father to prevent irritations and emotional burnout. 
2. Save up for the little ones from the start to avoid draining your financials in the first few months.
3. Make your presence count by being supportive and present with your family. 
4. Be there for your partner. Show her that you care and that you are willing to help her throughout the process. 
5. Discussing parenting with your partner is the best thing you can do to be a hands-on parent. 
6. Learning small baby care skills will go a long way in your parenting journey. Practice swaddling, and cleaning your baby often. 
7. Poop, pee, snot, vomit, and burps will be the norm of your life from now on. Be ready to wipe all that off of yourself and the baby.  
8. Feed the baby through the bottle when you can to give your partner a break.
9. Understand your baby’s cues to create learning patterns that you can use to decode what your baby might be feeling. 
10. Get enough sleep to function with sanity and avoid physical burnout. 
11. Make time for yourself to do things you love. It doesn’t make you selfish. 
12. Similarly, your partner needs a break too to do the things she loves. Be considerate towards her mental health. 
13. Fathers are as important as mothers for the overall well-being of the baby. Spend quality time with your baby to fulfill your part as a parent.  
14. Don’t stay indoors all the time. It is okay to take your baby out for a stroll in the park. 
15. Enjoy the playtime with the little one. They might not understand it at all, but it is a great way to build a stronger bond. 
16. Watch out for overspending on baby stuff. They are not as effective as you think they might be. Plus, your baby doesn’t need the walker at 3 months old. 
17. Your house will be messy and filled with baby stuff. Don’t sweat the small stuff. 
18. The intimacy levels in your relationship are going to change. Give your partner the time she needs to bounce back. 
19. Read your partner’s body language and understand what she is trying to communicate.
20. Co-parenting is doable as long as you and your partner are willing to work in harmony for the betterment of your child. 
21. Think about taking paternity leave, especially for the first few months, to help with the baby. 
22. You won’t drop the baby to the floor. Take the leap of faith and enjoy holding your baby.
23. Postpartum depression is a very real thing your partner can go through. Be supportive of her and provide her with the necessary help. 
24. Take a break when required, as overworking yourself is not going to do any good. 
25. Be communicative with your partner. Talk about the issues that you might be facing and listen to her as well. 
26. Patience is key with a baby. It will take time for everything to settle, and for you to regain some parts of your old life back. 
27. Over-scheduling will mess up your day. Therefore, keep your day as simple as possible. 
28. Take things slow and think wisely before stepping into new directions. 
29. Traveling with a baby can actually be amazing. Don’t be scared of a baby day out. 
30. Help with the household duties and divvy things up to take the weight off your partners’ shoulders.
31. Have some sense about each other’s saturation points around the baby. Take charge when your partner is exhausted.
32. Hang out with friends to change the mood and recharge. 
33. Manage your emotions, as parenting can take a toll on your mental health. Anger and frustration can linger for awhile. 
34. Your baby doesn’t need everything that is advertised on TV and in magazines. Keep things minimal and only buy necessary things. 
35. Start whipping up a routine. Although it may be tough to follow, trying doesn’t hurt.  
36. Invest time in healthy habits like eating clean and exercising. Encourage your partner to do the same.
37. Work and family can be managed together if you are willing to commit and take on the duties. 
38. Share responsibilities with your partner as much as you can. 
39. Talk to other dads to get a gist of parenting. But don’t depend on it entirely, as it can be different for you. 
40. Take your baby to doctor’s appointments when you can and don’t leave it entirely up to the mom. 
41. Read what your partner shares as it might be helpful information to build better insight on the baby and the parenting skills. 
42. Take lots of pictures and videos. These are the memories you will love to relive 5-6 years from now and will cherish for a lifetime. 
43. Brush up your cooking skills to make something to eat for yourself or your partner. 
44. Organize and declutter your space to make more room for the little one. 
45. Learn to trust dad instincts and your potential to be an amazing father. 
46. Make a checklist of the things to do for the day to avoid getting dazed. 
47. Family should be a priority. While you should enjoy your time with friends, be there when your family needs you.  
48. Perfect parenting does not exist. There will be happy days and also days filled with frustration. 
49. Mistakes are going to happen. Therefore, don’t beat yourself up for making one. Instead, learn and move forward. 
50. Be ready for the unexpected, as you can’t be sure of anything, especially around the baby.

Conclusion

The addition of a baby in your life will be one of the most amazing moments that you will get to experience. While there will be tough days, try to keep calm and handle the situation with care. Your partner also needs you as much as the baby. Be the best version of yourself but, don’t forget that you have a life of your own too. Find ways to strike a balance between your roles and you will find this parenthood journey is not as difficult as it is set out to be.

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