12 Ways To Prepare For Fatherhood
Ways to prepare for fatherhood serve as pillars in the process of developing their children's well-being.
The thought of preparing for fatherhood can be scary. There is so much to do and think about — so much preparation.
But don't worry, in today's post, we want to share with you the twelve things to give yourself a better chance at getting ready before your little bundle arrives!
1. Learn Everything You Don't Know
What do you know about what it means to be a father? Probably not much. But the more you learn from books, and other resources, the readier you'll be for those first few weeks and months.
- Talk with your partner's mother as well.
- She may have some insights into how her daughter is feeling or what concerns she has about becoming a parent with her son-in-law.
- The more information you gather from all sides, the better equipped you'll be to take on this exciting new challenge!
Diana Villarreal, Production Manager, Lola Hats
2. Spend Time With Fathers Who Inspire You
If possible, try to meet up in person once a month or more often.
This allows you the opportunity to ask questions directly and get advice one-on-one, which is invaluable when preparing for fatherhood—especially if they've already been through it themselves!
3. Cut Yourself Some Slack
Being a new parent is hard, but so is being human. The key is to recognize when your stress levels are getting too high and take action accordingly.
Florence Spurling, Knit & Crochet Textile Designer, Knit Resort
4. Share the Joy of Pregnancy with Your Baby's Mother
Talk about your hopes, dreams and prepare newborn baby items for the future.
Sharing these things with each other can help build intimacy between partners, which is important in any relationship but especially one where there will soon be children involved.
Virgile Peyramaure, Handtand Coach, Alo Yoga
5. Help out around the House
If you're not doing it already, taking on some household chores will be appreciated by your partner.
You can cook, clean, do the laundry and, yes, cut those grasses down before they grow too high!
Cassie Barbier, Vice President of Operations, Figs
6. Stay Fit
If you want to help your kid grow up strong, healthy, and happy—and maybe even save some money along the way—you'll need to stay fit and well. Here's how:
- Get plenty of exercise by walking or running outside when it's warm enough; otherwise, use an elliptical machine at home or at the gym.
- Drink plenty of water. For best hydration, aim for 8 cups per day!
- Sleep for at least 7 hours at night to keep your energy levels high.
David Fernandez Neila, Owner, Golf Le Fleur*
7. Bathe A Baby
The first step is figuring out how to support your arms so that they don't get tired, which can happen after holding an infant for more than 10 minutes.
You'll also want to know where and how far apart to place your hands in order to avoid accidentally dropping or smothering the baby.
Altaf Maaneshia, Founder & CEO, Altaf Maaneshia
8. Change a Diaper
Make sure your supplies are all within reach, including convenient, changeable baby girl outfits.
Remember to keep safety at top priority by avoiding pinching or raking fingers along sensitive skin areas such as thigh creases or inner thighs (where feces could collect easily without proper cleaning methods being followed regularly).
Zarela Graves, Software Engineer, Stitch Fix
9. Attend Childbirth Classes with Mom-to-be
By attending childbirth classes, you will learn how to support your partner during labor, what to expect at the hospital or birthing center, and also how to care for your newborn after delivery.
Jeff Ring, Executive Vice President, Sasha Handbags
10. Bond with Your Unborn Child
As you're getting ready to welcome a new family member into the world, it's important to bond with your unborn child while they are still inside your wife's belly. Try reading books aloud or singing to them.
Blake Jeffress, Owner, TrueSole Customs
11. Get a Crib
The mattress should be firm with no bulges or dips in it. You can even check for this by trying to push your finger into the foam—if you feel resistance, the mattress is too firm for the baby.
If there is no resistance at all, then it's too soft and will not support his head well enough (and could even cause flat spots!).
Put on sheets and a fitted bottom sheet if you're using one (a fitted bottom sheet will hold its shape better than a flat one).
Also, check for bumps or creases in any part of the bedding because they could become tangled around the baby's limbs as she sleeps or moves around in her sleep—and that would be dangerous!
Monali Desai, MD, Founder, MYD Health
12. Set up the Nursery
Make sure that everything in your nursery is secure so your little one doesn't get hurt while playing with her toys or crawling over to see what's going on outside her window!
- Don't worry about being a perfect dad.
- You'll make mistakes, but that's part of the learning process.
- The most important thing is that you feel good about yourself and what
If there are times when things aren't going smoothly, don't let it get on top of you; instead use them as opportunities for growth and reflection.
Jackie Lugo Sr., Denim & Woven’s Designer, Revise Clothing
Alex Smith, author
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