Congratulations, you’re a dad! You’ll be bursting to tell everyone your news and of course squeeze in the obligatory male ceremony of wetting the babies head but then what? 

Bringing the baby home from hospital can be a great source of excitement, fear and trepidation……you are now on your own. 

Remember that your partner will have just given birth and probably won’t be feeling like her normal self. She will probably be feeling a little hormonal and will need plenty of support. At times she may even burst into tears for no apparent reason, don’t try to find out why she is upset or try to find a logical reason ( there probably isn’t any!) just give a cuddle and reassurance. She is new to the baby business too and sometimes it can seem a bit over whelming until you get into a routine. Visitors will probably be eager to come around and see your new arrival, while it’s great to see all your well wishers, it can also be draining. The first few days at home will be a time for you to be getting used to being new parents and having to entertain and make endless cups of tea can cause added stress. 

• Ask visitors to make their own cups of tea and if your partner wants to take the baby off for a nap and get some sleep herself encourage her to do so, regardless of having people visiting. They will understand and it’s important for you to get as much sleep as you can.

• Don’t let the baby be constantly passed around from person to person it can cause the baby to become fretful.

• Help as much as you can with the household chores.

• Help from either of your parents will be great but don’t let them takeover. Ask them if they could do some washing or cook a meal but remember that you’re the parents now and no matter how well meaning they are times change and methods change. Rubbing whisky on a baby’s gums to aid with teething may have been the done thing in the sixties but fortunately there are newer methods available now that don’t involve alcohol! Some of their experience may come in handy though so don’t discount all their advice.