Hey y’all! I am very pleased to have Melissa from CloudMom today to talk about keeping Dad involved with a new baby – because everyone knows how important Daddies are! Take it away, Melissa!
Hello! Melissa from CloudMom here, discussing one of my favorite topics – Dad. I am so thankful every day for my husband, the father of my five wonderful children. Having that many kids in such a short time span, all while living in an apartment in New York City, has been one wild roller coaster ride and I couldn’t have gotten through it without him. He is my #1 fan and keeps me level-headed through all of the ups and downs. Dads play such an important role in our lives and in the lives of our children, but sometimes it can feel as if his duties aren’t as well defined. If there’s a special man in your life and in the life of your baby, here are some tips for how to get Dad involved with the new baby!
- Start Early: Who says you have to wait until the big delivery day to get the father involved? Once you find out you’re pregnant, you’re now an unstoppable team. Encourage your partner to study up on the latest baby news with you, pick out favorite baby names together, and collaborate on the décor for the new nursery. I have such fond memories of going baby shopping with my hubby in the weeks leading up to the birth of our first son. Having him by my side also kept the jitters at bay during the pregnancy!
- Delivery Room Dad: The big day has finally come! Besides being there to endure your hand’s death grip, Dad will be there to get you through your first sleepless night as new parents. My wonderful husband was there to rock the baby to sleep when I was too exhausted and ask the nurse for more burp cloths and diapers. I really couldn’t have gotten through those first days without him.
- Getting a Working Dad Involved: If your partner works a full-time job while you stay home on maternity leave, he can easily feel out of the loop. To keep my hubby feeling like a full-time, not a part-time, dad, I would send him little updates and pictures throughout the day. It’s a nice way to keep them involved from a distance and gives them something to look forward to when they come home!
- Getting involved at home: On the weekends or during hours off from work, a stay-at-home dad can be super helpful with everything from changing diapers to helping you stay hydrated while breastfeeding your baby. If you’re ready to start using bottles with pre-pumped breast milk, getting your partner involved in feeding your baby will really allow him to feel like an equal partner!
- You’re a Team: Admittedly, I am a huge micromanager. So when it came to motherhood, it took some effort to let go of my surging maternal instincts and let my husband take charge every so often. Sure, we have different ways of doing things and different parenting styles. I’m a planner, he’s more go-with-the-flow. But that’s the beauty of a partnership. I could share my latest baby tips and tricks with him and he could get me to laugh when my hormones and anxiety got the best of me.
Getting dad more involved before the birth of our five children was such a wonderful experience and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without him. Encouraging a bond between dad and newborn before and after the birth is so important and I’m happy that I could share some of my experiences with you in today’s guest post! To all the moms and dads out there, happy parenting!
Melissa Lawrence, co-founder of CloudMom, lives in New York City with her husband and 5 young children. With more than a few parenting tricks up her sleeve, Melissa posts how-to-videos and blogs for parents on a range of issues including baby, toddler, kids, fashion, travel, and well-being.
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