21–30 of 101 posts
The "Elimination Communication" thing is awesome if you can get it working. One baby it worked 90% and the other about 60%.
When baby gets to about 3 try "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons", it is not easy but it is simple and it works.
As a father of a now 17 and 19 year old I can definitely say looking back that the years were indeed short. Enjoy the days.
If it’s a boy, I would just let you know that he’s going to pee everywhere during diaper changes. Not all the time—only when you least expect it. Keep your cool and try not to leave stuff downstream that you wouldn’t want pee on.
The first time around we heard the "specialists" and it really stressed the little boy. We gave up and let him decide and it went perfectly, as it did with our second child.
I found it very useful. I then gave this book to yet another new father.
It's $10, probably less if you get a used copy. This book is worth 100 of these comments, and hopefully you find it as useful as I did, and can then pass it on to another new father.
Outsource as much as you can afford, even if its just help around the house.
I worked these obnoxious high pressure tech jobs for many years, and now is when I get to reap the benefits.
I went through a "grieving" process of my new fate in life. It helped more when the baby started smiling. It helped more when she started sleeping through the night. It helped more as I internalized and built acceptance more.
If anyone wants to reach out on this aspect of fatherhood please reply and would love to get in touch.
EDIT: And goes without saying, but try all you can to get into a job/role that's remote and not super time-consuming or stressful. You will find it really valuable to have some of that 9-5 time when there's childcare (and also away from your spouse depending on the situation) to recharge and do whatever the F you want :)
Get help if you can. We hired a night doula after the first week of minimum sleeps, I have never been happier paying someone $400 a night.
When I was a new father, another new father handed me this book: https://amzn.to/49odJYo (disclaimer: it's a paid affiliate link) I found it very useful. I then gave this book to yet another new father. It's $10, probably less if you get a used copy. This book is worth 100 of these comments, and hopefully you find it as useful as I did, and can then pass it on to another new father.