10 Things Every New Dad Should Know

Nobody arrives knowing how to do this

Competence with a newborn is not instinct. It is repetition. The fathers who feel confident at three months are almost always the ones who did the unglamorous tasks in week one, badly, and kept going.

Take a full task and own it end to end — nappies, the bath, the evening settle. Owning a whole routine builds skill far faster than helping with parts of everything.

Ten things worth knowing early

None of these are complicated. All of them are easier to hear before you are exhausted.

• Bonding grows out of caregiving, not the other way round.
• A crying baby is communicating, not judging you.
• Sleep deprivation affects your mood and your judgement — plan around it.
• Your partner is recovering physically as well as parenting.
• Visitors are optional. Say no freely in the first fortnight.
• Feeding decisions are practical, not moral.
• Low mood in new fathers is common and treatable.
• Ten minutes outside a day helps more than it should.
• Ask your health visitor or GP the 'silly' question.
• You will get better at this faster than you expect.

When to get help

If low mood, anxiety or hopelessness lasts more than two weeks, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP or local urgent mental health service. This is a common experience for new parents and support exists.