As a first time dad, there is no greater joy surpassing holding your own first child in your own hands. The joy is unquantifiable! With that singular bundle of  joy comes great responsibility towards the newborn, and the mother. I will be sharing tips you need to be the best dad to your newborn.

1. The first and foremost tip is to provide for your home. There is no medal given to an irresponsible dad! Instead, all they get are curses from the rest of the family. As a first time dad, your role as the provider has just doubled and you are forbidden to fail in that area. When the father is responsible, it becomes extremely difficult for his home to suffer.

2. There is no better time than now to be involved in the life of your child. Right from the outset, you should present and show yourself as an exemplary father to the newborn. Your presence in the home speaks volumes and your absence will be  damaging to the home. This is not the time to hang out more with friends at the detriment of your own family. Spend quality time at home. Let your presence be felt.

3. It is a given that women give all their attention to the newest member of the family. So, as a result of this, the wifely duties like preparing your meals may become largely tardy. Do not get off the handle on this account. You can as well help out in some of the house chores. This does not take away your manliness. Rather, it boosts it. 

4. You may often feel neglected by your wife because of your new baby. It is not intentional, it is just  the motherhood instincts playing out in your wife. Hence, it is an absolute no-no to be jealous of your own child. Remember, you have ‘enjoyed’ your wife to a certain level. It is now the turn of your newborn to enjoy the same.

5. Sex, apart from being the means for procreation,  is also a means for couples to bond. However, research has shown that women can resume sex after 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. So,  It is out of place therefore to be demanding sex from your wife who is still largely sore after going through the pains of childbirth.

6. New born babies can be a handful for the new mom and that is why you are there to help out. There are times that your wife will experience a tough time sleeping because your baby is crying.  At such times, the onus rests on you to take the place of a mother.  Sing a lullaby to the baby so that the mother can have some rest. After all, it is your seed in connection with your wife’s that brought the baby to be.

7. Newborn babies respond to love. A happy father makes a happy child.  You should make it a point of duty to spend quality time with the newborn. Singing to him/her, making him/her laugh will go a long way in bonding your child with you. Research shows that babies recognize familiar faces. So, if you spend time with your baby, he or she will remember your  face easily.

8. As a new dad, the safety of your family comes first. You should ensure that no harm comes to your family, especially the newborn baby. It is important to take safety measures in and around the home. Safety measures like making sure that all doors are locked at night, ensuring that the temperature in the room is conducive for the baby and other necessary measures.

Conclusively, as I said earlier, no medal is given to irresponsible dads. Now that you are a dad, you wouldn’t want to be labeled a bad father but rather a dad that will win applause for being the best ever!

READ ALSO: Traveling on a Budget