9 Tips for the Dad-to-be

Now that Little Miss is over 4 months old, I’ve had plenty of time to think about my experience at the hospital. If you ask me, I think I handled it exceptionally well, in fact I’d say that I was the epitome of cool.

Just don’t ask my wife…

Like the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. And looking back there are a few tips that would’ve come in handy.

1. Stock up. Pretend that we’re heading for a nuclear winter and stock up on everything. You will not be a very popular guy when you’re heading out for diapers in the middle of the night. Paper towels and duct tape doesn’t make a good diaper.
2. Plan your sleeping arrangements. When I arrived at the hospital the sun was just peaking over the horizon. Figuring out where I would be sleeping was the last thing on my mind. The decision was ultimately made for me. We wound up sharing a room with only one convertible chair/bed contraption so I went home for sleep. After trying out the make shift bed the next day, I was glad there wasn’t enough room for me.
3. Sniff out the coffee. Make a mental note of the closet place to grab a cup of coffee. If the adrenaline fails to keep you awake, slam a few cups of java to perk yourself up. Apparently it is hard to concentrate on breathing when someone is snoring in your ear.
4. Bring music. This was something that we forgot to bring. Music will give your wife something to focus on during contractions and help transform the sterile delivery room into a more personalized atmosphere. Just keep the gothic death metal at home.
5. Set up the DVR. Once again, something else we thought of after coming home. If you posses one of this fancy machines, record some of your favorite TV shows. Handy for when you can’t sleep, or baby won’t sleep and there isn’t anything but infomercials on.
6. Force yourself to sleep. Say good bye to a full night’s sleep for a while. For the first couple of months you’ll have a reoccurring alarm programmed to cry every few hours. When the baby is sleeping, mommy and daddy should be catching up on some sleep. Cause if they’re awake, you will be shortly too.
7. Have a good camera. Now is the perfect excuse to buy that video camera you’ve been eye balling. Don’t settle for the crappy camera in your cell phone; these could be the most important pictures and videos you will ever take.
8. Keep your home your sanctuary. When Little Miss was born, we had waves of family visit. After while it became overwhelming while trying to figure out this new baby. We would visit with friends and family at their house and would retreat to the cave when it became too much. It gave the wife and I some alone to regroup and settle without the added pressure of entertaining guests.
9. Take care of mom. Last, but defiantly not the least – take care of the new mom. You wouldn’t feel all that great after pushing a watermelon out of your body. She deserves to be taken care of, hell… it’s all our fault anyway!

Take this advice, and use it wisely. Above all, enjoy the moment and relax. Nothing can compare to the birth of your child; so don’t miss it my passing out on the delivery room floor.