So you just had your first child and now you’re grappling not only with a baby, but also with the responsibility of being a new dad. Congratulations! We know how it feels: incredibly exhilarating, overwhelming, exhausting and terrifying, all at once.
Although there’s no formula to being a great dad, you can never have too much advice on the subject (of that, you may disagree after a weekend with your mother-in-law). With that in mind, we’ve compiled a quick list of tips every new father should keep in mind while going about their parental duties. Here are 6 of the best bits of advice for new dads.
Be Hands-On From The Get-Go
Some psychologists believe that the relationship you and your child have in the future depends mainly on the first few months you spend together, and the development of a ‘healthy attachment’ between parent and baby
For you and your child to have a healthy relationship, you will need to build a strong foundation from the get-go.
Your child needs to understand that they can rely on you at all times. Being involved from the beginning will help cement their trust and belief in you.
Accordingly, you should look to spend lots of one-on-one time with your baby, helping them establish trust in you. Participating in activities such as dressing, bathing and playing with your child makes it easy to accomplish this.
Start Planning For Their Future As Soon As They Arrive
Your child will not be a cute 6-month-old or a hilarious little toddler forever. You’ll need to take them to school and then college at some point in the future. We won’t lie to you; this is costly.
However, if you start planning for the future costs as soon as possible, you’ll make those expenses easier to manage when they do finally arrive. And if college isn’t something they want to do, you could divert the funds to a trade school, a mortgage down payment, or capital for a business.
Life Insurance For Dads
As a father, one of the best gifts you could ever give your children – other than your unconditional love and unequivocal support – is protection from financial uncertainty in the event of your passing. That’s why it’s essential to have the right life insurance cover in place.
There are many different policies for specific types of dads, for example, single dads, younger dads and self-employed dads. Whichever life insurance for dads you choose to take out, ensure that it guarantees that your dependents are safe and protected when you’re no longer present.
Read: 6 types of insurance your family might need
Mind That Baby Talk
This is advice that many new parents break, sure, but it’s one well worth keeping in mind. When a child starts learning how to talk, they tend to communicate exclusively in gibberish and baby talk. Some parents answer them in the same way, mirroring that gibberish for a little playful fun.
A child learns how to talk and behave from the people around them. Some studies suggest that if you don’t speak to your child the way you would conduct yourself in a regular conversation (within reason, of course!), you risk impeding their learning.
Speaking to your child ‘normally’ allows them to listen to how words are supposed to be pronounced, which then helps them improve their pronunciation.
Apart from avoiding baby talk, reading to them or singing songs will also help foster your child’s speaking and enunciation skills. We should note, however, that a little baby talk probably isn’t going to do much harm, and, in some cases, might actually have a positive impact on your baby.
Take Care Of Yourself, Too
Now that you’re a father, and have people who depend on you, you will need to step up your game, making sure you’re living clean, eating healthily and exercising regularly. You owe it to your child to be healthy for them.
Taking good care of yourself will also ensure you’re healthy and strong enough to watch your children, grandchildren and possibly even great-grandchildren grow!
Be The Chief Diaper Changer
Help your partner out. She’s carried a foetus to full-term, delivered the baby and is now on breastfeeding duty for the next 24 months or so. Help them take a load off by taking care of some of the other chief responsibilities.
In fact, go out of your way to help; your partner will surely appreciate it if you change those diapers without them having to ask. What’s more, such tasks offer an excellent opportunity to bond with your child. So there you go; two birds, one stone.
Congratulations Once Again, New Dad!
Children are such a blessing. They teach you so much in their innocence and untainted view of the world, forgiving without question and accepting without judgment.
The ride may be bumpy for new parents, but we hope these few tips will help. Be involved; plan for their future; get a life insurance policy; help your partner, and take care of yourself, too. Doing these things will help keep you on track to become the father your child can always rely on. Good luck!