The transition to fatherhood can present as a fundamental shift in a man’s life. Along with the traditional challenges of learning new skills and knowledge, changes in personal identity, the couple relationship and financial commitments may lead to new fathers being overwhelmed by feelings of confusion, exhaustion, helplessness, loneliness and feeling trapped. New fathers who are struggling are often overlooked and their difficulties are not often acknowledged by a system that has focused mainly on mother and baby health and well-being. This means that some dads may not be encouraged to acces ..read more

Adjusting to parenthood Parenthood is a time of transition, requiring you to mobilize lots of your resources and energy to cope with it. New parents must adapt to a new role with enormous ongoing demands and responsibilities. The reality of fatherhood is that there are wonderful highs and many joys and intense feelings of love and closeness. But there can also be challenges. It may be very different from what you expected. The isolation and uncertainty of caring for a baby can be very stressful. Your partner may have physical discomfort after birth for some time, feel tearful, anxious and em ..read more

Your baby will thrive on getting lots of physical contact, attention and care from you. Respond in a way that is sensitive and appropriate to your baby’s gestures and sounds. They do best if they feel that someone is emotionally ‘tuned in’ to them and understands them. It helps your baby feel safe and secure in the world. It enables you to help your baby organise and manage their feelings. Example: Your baby is tired, becomes worked up, and is unable to sleep. In order to understand what your baby is experiencing you should think about what it must feel like from the baby’s point of view: H ..read more

Babies cannot take care of themselves. This leaves you with the job of comforting them when they are distressed, feeding them when they are hungry, settling them when they are tired, entertaining them and keeping them clean and dry. One of the joys and challenges of the early days of parenting is figuring out what your baby needs. Simply because you are the parent you do not automatically know what to do when it comes to meeting the needs of your baby. In this article we share some tips for caring for and interacting with your baby. Your sleep needs You probably never understood before your ..read more

It is not unusual to lose touch with friends and colleagues when you have a new baby. Relationships may also change due to different life stages and interests. As a result, many new Dads experience loneliness, frustration and isolation which can all contribute to feelings of depression. Grow your network of support Having a network of personal supporters can ease at least some of the burdens you are experiencing as a new Dad. Your support network can include your partner, your family members, mates or sporting club members or new contacts you make with local Dads you meet through your baby ..read more

Becoming a parent is a major life change that often brings up issues and situations for which there are no definite right or wrong solutions. Problem solving is a skill that helps you when a difficult situation arises. It gives you a process for thinking through options, trying out possible solutions, and revising the game plan as needed to figure out what will really work for you, your partner and baby. 4 Step approach This approach assumes that every problem has a solution – and sometimes many solutions – that you can identify through thoughtful trial and error testing. Here are 4 steps th ..read more

Effective communication means being able to communicate clearly and graciously, asking for what you want and saying “No” to things you don’t want. Like other parents of new babies, you may find it difficult to communicate effectively because you are especially tired, and your energy is focused on managing all you must do. Being able to express your thoughts and feelings openly to others can help you get the support you need. Dads of new babies may find themselves in situations in which they find it difficult to express their true feelings or dislikes. There may be many reasons why you don’t ..read more

The arrival of your baby can bring many changes to your relationship and can bring all sorts of new emotions for you and your partner. Dads are often keen to keep their relationship strong and to support their partners through this time but it can be tough to know exactly how to do this. Let your partner know what you think she is doing well Mums (and dads) often feel moments of low confidence as they learn the ropes of being a parent. Try telling your partner often what she is doing well as a mum. You could ask her to do the same for you. Look out for your partner’s physical and mental health ..read more

In order to be a good father and partner, it is important that you look after yourself physically and emotionally. This means making sure you get sleep, exercise and eat well. Whilst doing these things at a time when there’s a new baby in the house might seem difficult, with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be impossible. Keep exercising Once you’ve found your parenting rhythm, negotiate with your partner to set aside time each week for sport or exercise. Your new role might mean mixing things up a bit compared to before your baby came along. It might mean doing different exercise like ta ..read more

Many new fathers wonder what they can do with their babies, when most interaction (especially in the beginning) seems one-sided – a little like talking to yourself. However, think of yourself as your baby’s favourite toy. Not only are you a source of fun, your interactions help your baby to learn with play being an essential part of normal child development. Bring out your inner kid! This is your chance to have some fun! Older babies in particular are fascinated by what’s going on around them like the sounds they can hear, colours or movements they can see, and the things they can feel. Try we ..read more