Dads Talk About What To Expect During The First Week of Fatherhood

Ah, that first week. The no sleep, the weird sounds, the jet black poop. Here are real dads talking about what to expect during the first week of fatherhood, straight from the Life of Dad Facebook page.

Scott Shill: Expect nothing. Just take it as it comes. Everyone’s experience is different. Just savor the moments.

Daniel Friedel: Sleepless nights. BUT, plenty of bonding time. It is all worth it in the end…

Word of warning though: Expect lots of exploding poopies in diapers, especially when changing the child. My son kicked some into my mouth one time…. will never forget it!

Andrew Leigh: Don’t expect too much. It’s quiet easy (as long as their is no complications), I was back to work after the 1st week.
Baby eats, burps, stays awake for a lil bit and goes to sleep, n that’s the routine every 3-4 hrs

Matt Huffer: Stock up on coffee, quick meal stuff, sleep as much as possible, tell all your friends you will be MIA for some time, don’t be afraid to ask for help, get ready for lower back pain.

Ritter Friedrich: Your world will turn into 20 minute blocks.
You will stress over everything.
Hopefully you will do whatever mom wants.
A good nights Sleep will be a couple naps.

But you’ll hold your baby and be amazed.
This tiny fragile little alien being that needs Everything from you.
You will stare endlessly at that little bugger and realize how much growing they yet have to do.
That you will shape and support that baby every step of the way until you let go as they become young adults.

You will think, worry, and imagine things you never thought you would.

In short…
Strap in, your in for the ride of your lifetime.

You can do it,
You Will do it.
Dads are awesome.
Congratulations.
Drinks on me.

Brook A. Rose: Be in the moment and appreciate each one. Those first three months seem to go on forever, but they are just a blip in time. Savor each moment and support your partner. Breathe, accept help & sleep when you can.

Kyle Sharp: Lack of sleep, moments of frustration, crazy wife, but then the baby will do something cute and it will all be worth it.

Ross Michael McCullough: Sleep whenever you can. Like, whenever. Also, paper plates and solo cups help so you’re not backed up on dishes. Pick up the slack for your wife, she is tired and has a baby glued to her boob. That means you do the dishes, laundry, prepare quick meals. Oh and take pictures. They change quick even after the first week or two. When they grow up fast, pictures is all you have to look back on besides brainwaves and memories.

Patrick L Fretschel: Biggest suprise for me with my son is how dam clammy his feet are. Everything sticks to them so when they kick on you your shirt and pants are going to get pulled.

Rob Christina Payne: [Expect] The unexpected. Expect to over react, feel over whelmed and under prepared.

Carl Kruz: Sleep poop and milk. That’s all babies do for the first few weeks. Unfortunately it’s very rare that they do them when it’s convenient!

What was your first week of fatherhood like? What should a new dad expect?

Flickr photo by Harsha K R.