Becoming a dad is a whirlwind. I still remember the moment I found out I was going to be a father—the mix of excitement, nerves, and of course, overwhelming anxiety.
And then, when my baby arrived, all those emotions tripled. I wasn’t just learning to be a dad; I was learning to survive on little sleep and juggle everything else life threw at me.
Thankfully, I had some advice that kept me grounded and helped me keep myself together (for the most part, anyway).
Here are the three best pieces of advice I received as a first-time dad, and why they’ve stuck with me.
1. The Best Advice: “Bring a Camera”
One of the simplest yet most powerful pieces of advice I got was to always have a camera ready.
It’s easy to forget to take photos at the moment, but those moments can turn out to be some of the best of your life.
The truth is, you’ll never get enough photos of your children. Time flies, and they’ll never be this small again.
A lot of people wait for their child to smile or pose just right, but let’s be real—kids are restless! Don’t wait for the perfect smile or the perfect moment. Just capture whatever’s happening.
And don’t forget about the videos.
You’ll thank yourself later when you can replay those baby voices, the funny ways they used to mispronounce words, or the way they laughed at the simplest things.
Those moments disappear as they grow, and having those memories saved is priceless.
2. The Second Best Advice: “It Gets Better”
This little gem came from a friend who already had two kids under his belt.
He told me, “The first weeks are like boot camp—no sleep, no rhythm, and a crying baby testing your mental strength. But it will pass.”
He wasn’t kidding. Those first few weeks were brutal.
Between the constant feeding, diaper changes, and baby crying every night, I felt like I was barely hanging on. It was exhausting in ways I never expected.
But hearing this advice gave me hope. It reminded me that it was just a phase, and phases end.
Before I knew it, my fragile, crying newborn turned into a sturdy little “diaper monster.” Those sleepless nights faded, and we found a rhythm that worked.
3. The Third Best Advice: “If You Can Do Something, Just Do It”
Credit: u/texasvalhund
I read this advice online, and it stuck with me immediately: “In the first month (maybe two), your partner won’t be able to do much. She’s going to be exhausted, and even asking her what you can do might annoy her. So just do it—laundry, dishes, diapers, whatever needs doing.”
I took this advice to heart. Instead of asking, “Do you need help?” I just jumped into action.
I cleaned bottles, tackled diaper duty, and cooked when I could, though honestly, takeout was often our go-to since exhaustion sometimes made cooking feel impossible.
Even small efforts, like grabbing dinner on the way home, helped ease the load.
Later I realized, it wasn’t just about splitting chores—they created a rhythm where we felt like a team.
We were showing up for each other and our baby. That sense of partnership became a foundation that’s carried us through countless tough moments since.
4. A Word to Other First-Time Dads
To all the new dads out there, here’s what I want to say:
Your schedule and routine are about to get turned upside down. Your hobbies might take a backseat for a while. You’ll experience highs and lows that you never thought possible.
Yeah, fatherhood is a wild ride, but it’s also the most amazing and impactful thing you’ll ever do.
You’ve got this dude!