mackemsuffa
Central Defender
Babying is easier its when they grow up they become troublesome
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Becoming a dad
- Thread starter Seaham Towny
- Start date
Buzzer
Striker
People saying it's a piece of piss...just pray you get a baby that sleeps well 
. Me and my wife haven't had a decent night's sleep since July 2023, our little one still wakes up 3 or 4 times a night despite trying every trick in the book. That side is just pot luck unfortunately.
. Me and my wife haven't had a decent night's sleep since July 2023, our little one still wakes up 3 or 4 times a night despite trying every trick in the book. That side is just pot luck unfortunately. 
GravesendLad
Midfield
I apologise if I have misunderstood.
I have no interest for an argument, let alone "another argument"
VenisonsMullet
Central Defender
1. Get plenty of sleep between now and May
2. Get the little one into a routine as soon as possible - it will be a few weeks of pain but 100% worth it. The mistakes we made with our first were corrected with our second and she slept like a dream.
3. Try to remember that the bad bits are outweighed by all the good bits. The bad bits don't last forever either
Oh and forget about having any more sex.
Best of luck
What's their sleeping setup? We've had similar nightmares but seem to have had a bit of success the last two months.People saying it's a piece of piss...just pray you get a baby that sleeps well
- If your partner is having a section, make sure you pack a bag of clothes and a wash bag for yourself. Don't forget your phone charger and take a towel in so you can have a shower;
- Don't bust your balls getting their bedroom ready unless you have time that is, they won't use it for ages as they'll end up sleeping with you for a while. Granted it will have to be done at some point;
- Encourage your Mrs to breast feed, it's supposed to be healthier for the baby and it means you can avoid the clart on of having to prepare bottles/formula when you go out, obviously your Mrs will have to express, but that's when you can help out and better bond with your baby. Ultimately though it's her decision, I was fortunate it's something my wife was keen to do and she did do, she loved it, when our first was weaned off it was the right time for all concerned, but I remember she was emotional knowing they wouldn't share that experience again. It's a bond we will never know and one that can only be shared between mother and baby, it really is remarkable;
- Buy a load of muslins, they always come in handy;
- To save money consider buying the buggy and anything else for that matter on facebook marketplace, we bought everything new but ended up losing a buggy and replaced it with the same one in great nick for a lot cheaper. Facebook marketplace and vinted are great for buying kids stuff, you often get things that have not been used for very little money. The only thing I would not compromise on is the car seat and base, safety of course is imperative and therefore has to be new. For our second we also bought a Doona car seat and buggy (we also had another base for her more durable buggy/carrier) which came in handy for the Mrs as getting the baby and everything else in the car can be difficult especially when the weather is poor, the Doona helped speed things up;
- Get a next to me crib that you can attach to the bed for the baby to sleep in. We also bought a baby nest for them to sleep in, make sure it's safe to do so, some haven't got the necessary safety requirements, they come in very handy and we found it better than a moses basket. Make sure you do your own research;
- On the day of the birth, take lots of photos, make sure you take your phone in and take notes about things that happen from getting up to going to bed, it's great taking a diary of things like that, I went as far as taking notes of what music was playing at certain points throughout the day, names of doctors, midwife etc. it's nice to recall the memories later;
- Take a good amount of nappies into the hospital with you, a pack of 10 at least just in case, it's amazing how many times they need changing;
- Buy a temperature night light to monitor the temperature in the room as they can't regulate their own temperature for something like 6 months until after they're born, could be longer;
- Buy a good baby thermometer, ear is best;
- Make sure you have a tub of sudocrem and don't be afraid of using it for prevention as opposed to reactionary, got to make sure they're comfortable;
- Pick them a cool name, they'll thank you for it in later life;
- Book in the name registration soon after they're born, I registered the name myself for both of mine, use it as an opportunity to have some time to yourself as it'll be full on after the baby's born with people wanting to visit etc.;
- Enjoy the bubble in the early few weeks when it's just the three of you;
- Try to get actions off your plate before you go on paternity, whilst I still enjoyed it I ended up doing some work in the hospital and the odd half day here and there, try to avoid this if you can. It wasn't as bad as it seems as the baby sleeps most of the time but your partner needs you to help out as much as possible, even more so if they've had a section.;
- Be understanding and supportive as much as you can be with your partner, there's a lot of emotions going on and hormones are all over the place, remain patient and do as much as you can, make sure you're useful;
- Enjoy the early weeks and months, they sleep for the most part;
- Finally, remember you're a team and you've just added a new member to your family, you're all in it together, be happy, battle for them and do the best you can possibly do so each and every day.
All the best my friend, it's a journey, tough at time but wow is it rewarding, they'll make you laugh, cry, you'll be angry at times, frustrated, proud and many other things, but most of all they'll create a love that is difficult to describe, you will do everything and anything for them, you'll never stop thinking of them and you will constantly worry, do your best by them and they'll turn out well rounded, happy individuals.
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Kevsgreat
Striker
Congrats mate. Even complete numbskulls seem to manage it so I'm sure you'll be fine.
look out piano
Striker
Congratulations my love
Just be prepared, get all the stuff ready for the baby and let your lass nest.
When baby comes help where you can, if you're able to sleep in shifts with the Mrs that would be helpful as she'll be knackered xx
Charmless Man
Striker
My Mrs struggled the first few weeks with breast feeding but seems to have cracked it now.
So first few weeks was mostly expressed milk topped up with formula where needed. The plus side of only breast milk is that the shits are much less frequent and smell of nothing - something to do with being more digestible than formula.
That is an excellent post, however I think the main points are in the last two paragraphs. I think it is a learning exercise from day one. Some things work some things don’t, but it is a wonderful experience.
Billy2Sheds
Winger
Is it not more the case that a lot more people are stopping at one child and waiting until later to have the child rather than couples not having children at all?
nahwee
Winger
Seaham Towny
Striker
I don’t sleep all that much now anyway, I’m prepared for it getting worse like.
And yeah, absolutely
I’ve a list on my phone of lads I went to school with and their bairns names, the reasoning is two-fold. So I don’t forget them if I run into them, and so that we didn’t pick the same name.
Of the 15 of us, there’s 25 kids and another 3 on the way including my own.
All of us are white British people except my wife.
I’ve joked previously that they seem to be taking this population decline thing seriously. As far as I’m aware they all have stable jobs and are homeowners bar one (suppose it’s easier in the North East for that)
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Charmless Man
Striker
I think there’s a trend of childlessness as well, may be more of an American thing but as with everything else similar trends occur here. Call themselves DINKs (Dual Income No Kids).
bakefingersvert
Goalkeeper
Get the kid lots of fresh air. It seems to help them to sleep. It may not work but it is great fun taking them to the park or the beach even when they are tiny. My daughter had a bit of jaundice and we were advised to get some sun on her skin. It felt weird undressing her down to her nappy in the park but it worked
All kids are different so good luck.
All kids are different so good luck.
Julio Mackemo
Winger
Enjoy the early years, they'll fly by and you'll miss them. The child then starts secondary school and heads towards the teenage years......
Crook Mackem
Striker
Kids are boring as owt until they start being able to interact properly imo. As a dad you cant really do anything for the first year really, all they need is a mam. Neither of ours slept particularly well so i would say that initial few months / year is just an endurance test
You just make it up as you go along as well. I do think though that when ours were born 2009 / 2011 there was a lot more support for "activities" etc to do with mams and their babies, the wife made some really good friends at some of them groups and one of the eldests best friends is a girl who she first met at one of them when she was a few weeks old. But like I say, I was pretty much a spare part other than being a paranoid wreck listening to them breathing when they were asleep or changing the odd nappy.
Would also say, the nappy thing whilst rank is nowhere near as bad as when the potty thing comes along. At least in a nappy it just stinks and is all mushed up. When your staring at a proper turd covered in piss in a little bowl it had me retching all the way to the toilet .
You just make it up as you go along as well. I do think though that when ours were born 2009 / 2011 there was a lot more support for "activities" etc to do with mams and their babies, the wife made some really good friends at some of them groups and one of the eldests best friends is a girl who she first met at one of them when she was a few weeks old. But like I say, I was pretty much a spare part other than being a paranoid wreck listening to them breathing when they were asleep or changing the odd nappy.
Would also say, the nappy thing whilst rank is nowhere near as bad as when the potty thing comes along. At least in a nappy it just stinks and is all mushed up. When your staring at a proper turd covered in piss in a little bowl it had me retching all the way to the toilet .
Feed the Monster
Striker
Provided you remember to dip the bairns dummy in lion shite they’ll sleep like a log.
Other best invaluable advice I can give is ignore all the advice and find what works for you, the missus and the baby. We got so much conflicting advice from all and sundry and then when the first came along common sense kicks in and you find out what works by trial and error.
It’s hard work but it’s the best hard work you’ll ever do. Enjoy.
Other best invaluable advice I can give is ignore all the advice and find what works for you, the missus and the baby. We got so much conflicting advice from all and sundry and then when the first came along common sense kicks in and you find out what works by trial and error.
It’s hard work but it’s the best hard work you’ll ever do. Enjoy.
Feel your pain we had one nightmare, one sleeper, in that order fortunately.People saying it's a piece of piss...just pray you get a baby that sleeps well
Nightmare started sleeping when she was 4.
