Surviving the First Week of Fatherhood : What You Need To Know

Congratulations, new dads! You’ve now entered the wild, beautiful, and utterly exhausting world of fatherhood!

Are you feeling overwhelmed? And perhaps excited at the same time?

Well, that's normal.

But the fact is—every dad has been there, and you’ll survive too.

Read below this article to explore some helpful tips on surviving the first week of fatherhood.

As soon as you hit fatherhood, joy, fear, exhaustion, and awe may all hit you at once. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed—after all, you’re holding your little one, who depends on you for, well, everything.

Did you know almost one in every ten dads experiences postpartum depression? In case you’re experiencing feelings of anxiety or sadness, don't ignore it. Instead, communicating with your partner, friends, or a counsellor can benefit you significantly.

Newborns sleep 16 to 17 hours a day; however, not in long stretches.

And you will too need to be up every two to three hours for feedings, diaper changes, and just to ensure that the baby is okay.

Instead of just one partner taking all the responsibilities, it's time for dads too to take turns with your partner. Simply handling diaper changes or burp duty will help your partner catch some Zs.

Changing a diaper is easier said than done. However, it's nowhere near as easy as it may seem.

The best approach is preparing ahead—having your wipes, nappies, and cream within arm’s reach while keeping one hand on the baby at all times. You can even buy a hazmat suit; after all, newborn poops are no joke.

Unfortunately, babies are masters of timing. The moment you remove that diaper, who knows, they will turn into a sprinkler. Thus, keeping a wipe handy can be your ultimate savior.

Whether your baby is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, feeding is nothing less than a full-time job. It's always a good idea to support your partner during breastfeeding by keeping her hydrated and comfortable.

In case you are bottle feeding, learn how to sterilize and prepare the baby’s bottles. However, do note that since babies have tiny tummies, they might just spit up half of what they just drank.

Babies cry. Sometimes they cry because they’re hungry or wet. Other times, they cry because...who knows? So the first week of fatherhood is probably learning about the reason behind your baby’s cues.

If the crying feels relentless, the best you can do is take a deep breath. Besides, alternative approaches, such as swaddling, rocking, and a good lullaby, can do the magic too.

Even though the first week of fatherhood encounters is enough to make new dads feel overwhelmed, you will experience some really crazy moments that you will cherish for years to come. Of course you will have a journey so tiring and clueless, yet you will feel a love so hard to put into words.