Taking care of a new-born is not easy, but there are things you can do to boost your self-esteem as a brand-new father!

To many people, being a caretaker is not the most straightforward and uncomplicated job in the world. The only experience many of us have had with children is with our pets. And honestly, some of us don’t even have that experience!

Mommies get the hang of it, somehow. Dads, on the other hand, can’t understand the logic behind various colored diapers and changing them a gazillion times every night! The means and tactics of taking care of a tiny human being are alien and overwhelming, but anybody can learn.

What’s refreshing is that while this is true, some fathers even drop out of work to fully take care of their children.

The big question is, how does a confused and clueless dad-to-be become a full-on caregiver? Well, we have some ideas. Read on to find out!

One-on-one Time is Key

honest/Unsplash: Baby enjoying time with father

Spend as much time as you have and can with your infant. Engage in routine activities like feeding, putting them to sleep, and giving lots of hugs too! These moments, although oblivious to you, create a bond between you and your child, which will surely get stronger as time passes.

Above all, you will become more confident in your abilities as a parent. and feel self-reliant about taking care of your baby.

Review Your Parenting Schedules with Your Partner

mrrrk_smith/Unsplash: Mom and Dad holding hands

Your partner/wife will naturally spend more time with your kid and would be good at all the diplomatic activities like bundling up and swaddling the baby. Planning your parenting agenda with your partner would help establish your skills.

Find Other New Dad-friends!

What is better than chilling out with other brand-new daddies while out golfing or playing soccer? You could even join an all-dads club. If that is too corny for your taste, just stop by to greet another father! Talk about your latest adventure and listen to their ventures. That would bring a lot of calmness and confidence in your parenting attitude!

Don’t Forget to Chillax.

atlanaka/Shutterstock: Father and son chilling out in the sun

Being a dad or mom could be mentally exhausting. Hence, parents need to get time off and dedicate time for self-care. Pamper yourself—do some yoga, go swimming and go out for dinner dates with your partner.

Engage in Activities with Your Baby

If you love dancing to hit numbers and reading crazy sci-fi novels, switch it up and dance to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and read “The Little Duckling” with your kid instead. That way, you are also inculcating your hobbies on them! How intriguing is that?

Look Back and Reflect

This could easily be done by setting aside a few minutes every day to think about all the little things that you did with your child that made you feel happy and content. Consider journaling every week—writing is therapeutic, so, you might also develop a liking to write things down.

Even though your newborn is still a tiny baby, they will soon be off to school and be playing soccer with you. So cherish every moment with them, even if it’s an exhausting one!