A father-of-two has shared his list of ultimate ‘dad tips’ for expectant men, from pregnancy through to labour and the first months of parenthood and received hundreds of likes on Reddit from grateful fathers-to-be.
Detailing how to support their pregnant partners, the father – believed to be from the US – highlights what to pack ready for labour, advising men to ‘sleep when your baby sleeps’, read to your child every evening and plan regular date nights.
Breaking it down into five sections, the father gave a detailed, yet humorous, description of what to do ‘before’ labour, during delivery, the baby essentials you should buy, and how to deal with having a newborn at home.
Kicking off the discussion, he explained: ‘I found out a couple weeks ago that some friends are pregnant with their first.
‘I wrote this to help them prepare for it. For what it’s worth, I have an almost three year old and a four-month-old. I hope this helps some dads to be, here!’
A father-of-two has shared his ‘dad tips’ for expectant men on Reddit, from pregnancy through to labour and the first months of parenthood, in a detailed thread receiving hundreds of likes (stock image)
BEFORE THE BIRTH
Revealing his ‘before’ tips, the father started by highlighting the importance of going to all the scans and birth classes, and to start planning what to buy from week 13.
‘If you’re going to do one, make a registry, do the showers, and see what people get you. Get your big ticket items (car seats, strollers, cribs, etc) in the sale’.
Explaining the importance of supporting your partner, he wrote: ‘Did I say pregnancy sucks? Libido will be all over the place.
‘So will body comfort both physically and mentally. You just roll with it as you can. Near the end (and especially once the baby has come) your partner’s breasts will probably be the largest, shapeliest, and most enticing they have ever been.
Explaining the importance of supporting your partner, he wrote: ‘Did I say pregnancy sucks? Libido will be all over the place.’
‘And it may be entirely likely you’re are not allowed to play with them, touch them, look at them, breathe on them, or even think about them because they’re sore and maybe leaking.’
However he continued on from this to describe the perks of being able to bond over bottle-feeding after his wife had ‘pumped’.
He then added that he had ‘plenty of sexy time’ during his wife’s first pregnancy, but none during her second, telling expectant fathers ‘so it goes’.
Advising fathers to plan their holidays now, he added that they should familiarise themselves with local parenting benefits and their employee rights.
Finally he reminded them to memorise the route to the hospital and all the other emergency ways they could get there.
Next he moved onto ‘gear, sharing his advice on car seats, cots, prams, a bouncing chair, a baby carrier, bottles, swaddles and finally advised that he found baby swings his saviour
THE DELIVERY
Moving onto delivery, the father-of-two made a list of items that should be packed for the hospital dash, adding that they should install a car seat ahead of time.
He then went on to talking about how to help your partner choose pain management, detailing the perks and risks of an epidural and other options.
Admitting he avoided cutting the chord at first, he recommended braving it to non-squeamish dads.
‘You’ll likely be offered to cut the cord. I noped the f*** out of cutting baby number one’s,’ he added.
And finally he encouraged fathers to help their partners breastfeeding to lower the risk of post partum depression, before advising them that fathers could also suffer from the condition.
He encouraged fathers to help their partners breastfeeding to lower the risk of post partum depression, before advising them that fathers could also suffer from the condition
Next he moved onto ‘gear, sharing his advice on car seats, cots, prams, a bouncing chair, a baby carrier, bottles, swaddles and finally advised that he found baby swings his saviour.
Going into further detail, he listed the medicines needed to avoid a ‘2am visit’ to the pharmacy, including a thermometer, baking soda for nappy rash, and urged fathers to save the pediatrician’s number under something easily found.
‘Get water proof mattress covers,’ he said, adding: ‘covers, with an ‘s’. Because you want two of them. Make the crib twice: cover, sheet, cover, sheet.
‘That way when the inevitable 2am blowout happens, you strip down the first two layers quick and go back to sleep. We changed and replaced too many sheets with number 1 before we learned this one. ‘
Finally he came onto the ‘baby at home’ section, advising immediately: ‘Sleep when the baby sleeps’ and read to them every night
AT HOME WITH THE BABY
Finally he came onto the ‘baby at home’ section, advising immediately: ‘Sleep when the baby sleeps’.
Recommending books on co-sleeping and advising fathers to google ‘swaddling’ techniques, he then warned people to think about how they would deal with people touching your baby without asking.
His final points were to learn CPR, put the baby in the cot if you’re losing your patience, to avoid screen time until the age of two, to read to them every night and to plan dates with your partner.
He concluded: ‘I think more than anything, trust yourselves and your instincts. All manner of things are said to make your life and baby easier, happier, healthier and smarter. Most are just to make money for other people.’
And his thread was a huge success among fathers, receiving hundreds of comments and likes.
‘Great read and tips’, one wrote, and another added: ‘Love this am printing it off for future reference’.
Meanwhile others shared their own tips, with one recommending: ‘Have patience in the early days and hold out till when they talk, the world gets a lot brighter’.
And his thread was a huge success among fathers, receiving hundreds of comments and likes, with some fathers sharing their own tips