Nothing could be more exciting than seeing your newborn yawning, crying, and wiggling on his bed in the nursery room. But when the time comes for you to bring him home, you suddenly realize that your wife still needs to recuperate and you're left to take care of your newborn. Then it hit you: you don't know what to do. Below are six easy ways that will help become a great dad to your newborn.
Always think of what you can do.
As they say, proactivity is one trait that gets things done. By thinking of what you can do, rather than wait for your wife to tell you what to do, you would be doing tasks that will make you learn how to become a great dad. You can try to take care of your baby at night and allow your wife to rest. You can even clean the bottles and get them ready for your little one. According to Today's Parent, by taking care of him, you'll better understand him.
Make some "time sacrifice."
Beyond anything else, sacrificing your time is the first step to becoming a great dad your newborn could have, as what Parents said. It's like a portal where once you got into it, everything else will fall into place. Remember, every activity that you would be doing for your newborn or for your recuperating wife would require your time. So try to set your heart into it.
Have fun with your baby.
Remember, your goal is to make your baby laugh and chuckle at your antics. You can expect this when his eyesight is better at three months or more. So when you try to make him laugh, give it your best. Treat every moment as if you're an actor auditioning for a leading role in a Steven Spielberg movie.
Don't be afraid of the icky stuff.
That's right, loving your baby means loving everything about him, including the icky poop and the smelly urine. If your wife isn't around or is sleeping, then be proud of having the opportunity to clean his buttocks and change his diaper. You'll be surprised at the daddy-baby bond this will create.
Embrace your new job: the family photographer.
Yes, when your baby's a teenager and you need something to remind him how much you love him, you can then show him the daily snapshots you took of him when he was a baby. Guess what, he'll love you for it!
Make patience your virtue.
If you can get impatient with your wife or with colleagues, then now is the time to be very patient. From being a newborn to reaching toddlerhood, you will have a lot of things to teach your child in order for him to become the person you'd like him to be. And what is the key? Lots and lots of patience from you.
These six easy ways will help you answer the question how to become a great dad to your newborn. So imbibe these things and you'll be breezing through fatherhood.