WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO A SOON TO BE DAD?

First of all, congratulations on the impending arrival. Fatherhood is the best thing that's ever happened to me (as well as meeting my wife and being born, obviously).





Some good practical advice on getting stuff ready for the birth itself is here:


http://www.dadcafe.co.uk/articles/labour鈥?/a>


The site also contains articles on living with a mum-to-be and other bits of advice.





A general tip is not to get too screwed up over small things which don't really matter in the long run (and being a parent is a long, long run!).





The most important advice I'd give regarding parenthood is act as you would like your child to act. You will make mistakes but if you try to set a good example right from the start, you can't go far wrong.





Enjoy!WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO A SOON TO BE DAD?
I've got three kids and while I don't know everything I'm no rookie either. Here are a few things in no particular order:





1. Learn to change a diaper. Yes, it sucks but just do it. Other than hygene, it also has a side affect of bonding you with the child. In the first few weeks the kid doesn't do much, but as it starts to develop and see you over it changing it, you both will bond to each other. Also, help Mom out when bathing the baby and let the baby sleep on your chest sometimes. You do not have the automatic bonding that the female does, you need to ';earn'; it so help out where you can to do that. It will make the difference between being a father and a dad.





2. Don't drop the kid. They can be slippery.





3. Your life as a single person is over. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be. Most fathers don't get this and think that they can go out and go crazy like they did before kids. YOu can't do that anymore. You have a kid that is 100% dependant on you for EVERYTHING. Think on that. EVERYTHING. If you leave it, it will die. So, you have be there which means sacrifice.





4. The kid knows what it needs more than you do. It knows how to eat, sleep, and poop. Other than that, it doesn't need much until it's a few months old. Nature has developed children longer than you, so let it do ';it's thing';.








And the most important thing is to relax and enjoy the process and to be a child yourself. While your life will change, it is a change for the better. The most rewarding thing I have is seeing my children grow and do things i never thought they could. But play with your kids, sit with them, read to them, you will get more out of it than they will. The world has enough dead beat fathers, don't be one of them and good luck.WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO A SOON TO BE DAD?
Get as much sleep as you can now... help the wife out after the babys born.. she will be very emotional also, so make sure you do not blow off anything feeling she has.
Nobody has all the answers. Understand that you will get all kinds of advice. In reality, no one really knows everything. Trust the baby's Mom. Maternal instincts are awesome. Have numnbers handy, like Ask a Nurse and everyone you can think of that has kids, to use as a reference. Ask a Nurse is awesome. Worry about everything, freak out about nothing.
Get ready to be amazed at the feelings you never imagined you could have for your child. They are so little but are such a miracle. :) My son's dad cried like I have never seen him cry before. It was as bad that when he went to the lobby to let people know they thought something was wrong. He was just overcome with joy.