10 Best Tips for New Dads

Looking for the best tips for new dads to help you through the first few months of a newborn?

Then let us help with our practical guide on first time dad tips!

As a new dad, you’re already dealing with a lot. You’ve got a newborn baby to care for who’s still working on the whole eating, sleeping, and crying a lot thing.

You have a partner who’s also adjusting to this new life. And now you’ve got to figure out how to be the best dad possible—and it’s only been a few days!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry: We’ve got your back!

We’ve put together some advice for new dads that’ll help make your role as a father even easier than you might’ve imagined.

So, gather your diapers, baby wipes, and burp cloths, and let’s get started!

And if you love this guide on newborn tips for dads, you’ll love these new dad quotes! Or even these guides on preparing for a baby and questions to ask your partner before having kids.

Best Tips for New Dads

Are you a new dad? Welcome to the club!

We know it can be a little overwhelming at first, so here are some tips to help you get started on the right foot:

1. Make Sure Your Baby’s Room Is Ready

The first thing you should do before bringing your baby home from the hospital is to make sure their room is ready. Setting up a nursery is one of the best ways to get excited about having a baby, and it’s also an important task.

You’ll want to ensure that you have everything set up before they arrive—from clothes and diapers to cribs and toys.

The first step in setting up a nursery is choosing where to put it. If possible, choose a room that’s spacious enough for all your baby’s needs and is on the first floor.

This includes cribs, changing tables, dressers, bookshelves, and other furniture items. Moreover, placing it on the ground floor of your house will make it easier for you and your partner to get to.

This will save you the long trek upstairs and back down again after your baby has finally fallen asleep!

2. Plan Your Budget

One of the most important things you can do as a new dad is to plan your budget. It’s great to be ready for unexpected expenses, like the cost of babysitters or a surprising trip to the doctor.

However, it’s also good to know in advance how much you can afford to spend on things like restaurant dinners and movie tickets.

If you’re not sure how much money you should be setting aside each month, talk with your partner about what they want out of life right now.

For example, are there any hobbies that are important to them? Do they want to travel more? Or maybe they want to get a dog!

Whatever it is, make sure that you are saving enough money so that those things can happen.

You might like our guide on how to save money on baby items!

3. Baby-Proof the House

Whether you’re expecting your first child or are a veteran dad, the first step to making sure your new baby is safe is to baby-proof your home.

Here are some simple tips to get started:

Remove electrical cords from areas where a baby or toddler could reach them, such as under furniture. You can also use cord clips to hang them on walls (or at least out of reach)
Remove any small toys or other objects that could be swallowed by a small child and choke them.
Also, make sure there aren’t any sharp edges on furniture or other household items that could cut your little one
Always keep cleaning supplies out of the reach of children (and, ideally, the pets, too)—they can be poisonous if consumed in large quantities

4. Take Loads of Pictures!

When you’re a new dad, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment (and then forget it ever happened!).

But there’s no better way to keep those memories alive than by taking lots of pictures.

Some dads might say they don’t like taking pictures or that it’s too much effort, but it’s not that hard—just set up your phone on a tripod and let it do its thing.

You can even get creative with angles and lighting!

If you’re feeling fancy, try setting up a homey photo booth with different props (a hat, a bowtie, maybe even a mustache!).

So, go on and take some photos—you’ll enjoy looking back on them one day.

5. Trust Your Instincts

When it comes to your baby, you know best. Your instincts and intuition are there for a reason, and they should never be ignored.

If something doesn’t seem right with your child, trust yourself enough to act on that feeling and seek immediate help from your partner or a medical professional.

If you have any doubts about your child’s health, always err on the side of caution and speak up.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re overreacting or being paranoid—ask for help, and make sure your child is healthy and happy!

6. Don’t Feel Guilty About Needing a Break

As a new dad, you’ll probably feel like you need to be with your baby all the time. You’re going to feel like if you can’t be there, then something terrible is going to happen.

However, that’s not entirely true—things will go smoothly as long as you leave them in the hands of your partner.

And if you take some time away from them, your child will still love you when you return. So, It’s okay to take a few hours away from the baby and do something you enjoy like one of these best hobbies for men.

It doesn’t mean you don’t love them—it means that you love them enough to take care of yourself so that you can be there for them when they need you.

7. Get the Baby Used to the Bottle Early On

New dads, listen up: if you want to get involved in feeding time, then you’ll want to help your baby get used to using a bottle.

Whether they are formular fed or breastfed a bottle is a great way for you to get involved and to give your partner a break.

Whilst finding the right bottle for your baby can be tricky, we have some great guides on bottle feeding and finding a baby bottle that best suits for needs:

8. Sleep When the Baby Sleeps

As a new parent, you’ll discover that sleep is one of the most precious commodities. It’s also the best thing you can do for yourself and your family!

If you’re up all night with your newborn, chances are you’ll be tired, and that fatigue will show during your interactions with others.

The best way to ensure that you’re getting enough rest is to stick to a consistent bedtime routine every night.

Try to put your child down before they get overtired so they can fall asleep without much fuss. You might also want to consider using white noise or blackout curtains in their room if they’re light sleepers.

If all else fails, try playing calming music or reading a book aloud until they fall asleep; this will help them relax and help soothe them to sleep. A rocking bassinet can also be a life saver in the first few months!

Just remember that a good night’s rest is necessary for doing everything else in life—being a parent included!

You may like our guide on the best rocking bassinets and best SNOO alternatives!

9. Communicate With Your Partner

When you have a new baby, it can be hard to find time for yourself, let alone your partner. You’re tired, stressed, and busy.

Sometimes all you want is a little quiet time to recharge—and that can feel impossible when there’s a tiny human who needs attention 24/7.

However, don’t forget that your partner is going through this experience with you—and they deserve to be heard as much as you do.

So, make sure that you find some time for each other in the midst of all this crazy newness!

You’ll both feel better about everything if you do—and it’ll help keep your marriage strong for years and years to come.

10. Enjoy a Little Skin-To-Skin Cuddling

New dads, it’s time to take a break from all the diaper changing and breastfeeding. Put down the wipes and grab your baby for a little skin-to-skin cuddling!

Skin-to-skin cuddling is an important part of bonding with your new baby, but it also has many physical benefits.

For example, it can help your baby regulate his own body temperature and heart rate. It can also help your baby sleep better—which is great because then you can get some sleep too!

Plus, skin-to-skin cuddling can help reduce crying in newborns, so you don’t have to worry about being woken up at night by your little one’s cries!

So go ahead: get cozy with your newborn today!

Final Thoughts on Advice for New Dads

So, new dads, you’re about to embark on one of the most incredible journeys of your life. We know you’re excited—we are too!

As a new parent, you’re going to have a lot of questions. You’ll probably be worried about whether you’re doing it right and how you can make it better if you’re not.

But the most important thing is to enjoy yourself and not get overwhelmed by how new everything is.

And remember: this too shall pass! You won’t always be in survival mode—you’ll eventually find your groove and start feeling like a pro.

And if you like this guide on advice for new fathers, make sure to check out our other guides on tips to help your newborn baby sleep , best baby carriers for big dads, and things new moms need for themselves.

Tips for New Dads