Preparing for Fatherhood: Tips for First-Time Dads

Becoming a great parent isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence, patience, and growth. If you’re wondering how to be a father in today’s world, the key lies in building a strong emotional connection, leading by example, and staying actively involved in your child’s life. Here are the core principles, backed by expert advice:

Whether you're a first-time father or looking to strengthen your role as a caregiver, this guide breaks down what it truly means to be a father—starting with the mindset and moving into the daily actions that shape your child’s future. Let’s explore how to prepare for fatherhood with these essential tips.

What Is the Meaning of Fatherhood?

Fatherhood and becoming a father mean showing up—emotionally, physically, and mentally—for your child. It involves nurturing, protecting, teaching, and building a relationship built on trust and love. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being a steady presence through every stage of your child's development.

Need ideas for bonding? Explore more on bonding with your baby for nurturing ways to build connection from the start.

What Should First-Time Dads Know and Do?

Stepping into first-time fatherhood can feel both exciting and overwhelming—but preparation goes a long way. While you can’t predict every moment, learning a few key skills and planning ahead can help you feel more confident, connected, and ready to support your baby and your partner from day one. Here’s some essential advice for first-time fathers. And before you get into the details, check out our handy, downloadable checklist.

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Learn the Basic

Being hands-on from the start can help you feel more confident and connected. Practice the following skills before your baby arrives:

• How to hold a newborn

• Changing a diaper

• Swaddling your baby 

• Burping your baby

• Understanding safe sleep practices

• Installing an infant car seat.

These foundational tasks help build confidence and foster early bonding.

Help Choose Baby Gear

Here's a checklist of basic baby items:

• Diapers and wipes

• Diaper bag

• Crib or bassinet

• Baby monitor

• Swaddle blankets

• Changing table

• Diaper pail

• Car seat

• Baby bathtub.

Check out our newborn baby checklist for all the essentials your little one might need.

Plan the Division of Tasks

Parenthood is teamwork. Discuss with your partner how responsibilities, such as night feeds, diaper changes, cooking, and laundry, will be shared. Open conversations early can prevent overwhelm later.

Before your baby arrives, it’s also a good idea to prepare your home by cleaning and setting up your baby’s sleep and diapering areas. Take on the heavy-lifting or difficult tasks to ensure your pregnant partner doesn’t risk their safety.

Create a Birth Plan Together

While you won’t be the one giving birth, your support is essential. Use our birth plan guide to help you both prepare. Learn about labor roles, including what to expect and how you can help during delivery.

Prepare for Those First Weeks With a Newborn

When preparing for fatherhood, plan ahead to ease the transition when you bring home your little one:

• Prep and freeze meals

• Discuss night schedules

• Learn newborn sleep patterns

• Explore Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers to help create a soothing bedtime routine for your baby

• Create a calm and safe environment

Manage Your Health and Wellbeing

Caring for a baby takes energy, patience, and resilience. Taking steps now to support your own health will help you feel more prepared for fatherhood.

Build Healthy Habits Before Your Baby Arrives

Eating well, staying active, and keeping hydrated can help boost your stamina. Even short at-home workouts or meal prepping can make a big difference once your schedule gets busier.

Get Enough Rest

Sleep is a precious resource for new parents. Try to go into the newborn stage well-rested, and consider making a sleep plan with your partner.

Care for Your Mental Health Too

Stress, fatigue, and big life changes can take a toll on new dads as well as birthing partners. Finding time for hobbies, relaxation, or simply talking things through with friends can help keep you balanced. If you ever feel persistently down or overwhelmed, reach out to your healthcare provider.

Bonding With Your Baby Before Birth

One of the most meaningful ways to prepare for fatherhood is by starting to build a bond with your baby before they’re even born. Research shows that babies can hear sounds in the womb during the second and third trimesters, which means they may recognize familiar voices after birth.

Simple ways to connect include:

• Talking or singing to your partner’s bump, so your baby gets used to your voice

• Playing music or reading your favorite story aloud

• Gently placing your hand on your partner’s belly to feel kicks and movements together.

These small moments can help you feel more emotionally connected and make the transition into fatherhood more natural once your baby arrives.

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Understand Your Partner’s Needs and Mental Health

Pregnancy is a time of emotional and physical change. One of the best tips for being a dad is understanding what your partner may be experiencing. This is essential to building a strong, supportive foundation. 

Emotional shifts such as mood swings during pregnancy and even perinatal or postpartum depression can occur, and your attentiveness and empathy can make a big difference. 

If you have concerns about your partner’s mental health, talk to them and encourage them to seek professional advice.

Managing Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation is more than an inconvenience—it’s a risk to health, safety, mood, and family well-being.

• New parents with poor sleep are more likely to experience irritability, anxiety, and impaired decision-making

• Raising stress levels from disrupted sleep can weaken parenting responsiveness and mood regulation

• Strategies that help include sharing night duties, napping when the baby naps, and asking for help

• Tips include: creating a sleep-friendly environment, alternating who is “on” and “off” at night, maintaining a bedtime routine, avoiding screen time before sleep, and staying hydrated and nourished.

These small shifts can make a big difference.

Building Your Dad Tribe: Connecting With Other Dads and Their Kids

Being a dad doesn’t mean doing it alone. Connecting with local groups, online communities, or parenting classes can help you feel understood and supported. Sharing experiences reduces isolation and boosts confidence.

Talking to Your Employer About Paternity Leave

As a first-time father, paternity leave is an important step you can take—not only for your child’s development but for supporting your partner too.

• Every company will likely have a different set of internal policies regarding parental leave, paid/unpaid leave, and vacation days, so consider these paternity leave policies when you’re making plans for how much time you can take off. 

• Federal protections are provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid paternity leave without the risk of job loss. However, not all workers qualify for this benefit, and only certain employers are required to comply with FMLA regulations regarding paternity leave. 

• Paternity leave helps support family well-being, strengthens the bond between fathers and their children, and promotes workplace equality.

• In practice, only about 5% of fathers take more than two weeks of bonding time, showing a huge opportunity for change.

• It’s also worth a look to check out daycare facilities close to your workplace for convenience and cost.

More Tips for New Fathers

Here are a few more of the best parenting tips for new dads:

• Create a work-life balance plan—especially helpful after paternity leave

• Bond with your baby early, through skin-to-skin contact, talking, and singing—even before birth

• Organize childcare logistics in advance

• Build storage for baby photos, digital and physical

• Learn how to prepare for a baby

• Download the Pampers Rewards app for more tips and rewards on all your Pampers purchases.

The Bottom Line

Fatherhood is a journey marked by learning, patience, and unconditional love. Preparing early, embracing paternity leave, staying present, and supporting your partner all build the foundation for a strong, lifelong connection. Remember—you don’t have to do it alone.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}