That's because secretly (or otherwise) all Dads want to play with toy cars and Lego again. The first toy my son picks up is Lego, I have trained him well
All blokes want a boy because they can't come home pregnant
First time dad
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All blokes want a boy because they can't come home pregnant
I was 41 when my son was born (he's 3 now and we have another on the way) and the age thing bothered me a bit but if I'm honest, he makes me feel a lot younger
It wasn't easy connecting with him as a baby mainly because he didn't do anything, sleep-eat-cry-poop. Like Jez said though, once his personality started to come through and he could move around, my feelings changed and now he's 3 it's flipping brilliant. He wakes up like a fully wound up toy every morning, just full of energy and smiles and mischief- definitely don't feel like I'm in my Forties having to keep up with him.
Congratulations and just don't over analyze it, these things come, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly- we're all different but we all get there eventually. Enjoy your Parenthood!
Quoted for truth.
You won't feel a thing until you think there is something wrong, i.e. baby is sick on you while you are still in the hospital, and you'll immediately spring into action doing the best that you can as a dad.
From there you'll not have much time for yourself, and you'll wonder where did my life go. It was around that time for me when I actually sat down and took care of my daughter for a day, then I experienced a range of emotions well outside my normal day to day, and then I knew, this is probably the best feeling in the world. That's the start, that's where you connect and from there, well, it's a trip, and you'll find yourself going way outside your means and comfort zone and you won't think twice, you'll just do it.
Congratulations, this really is a very good time for you
.Thought I'd post in here - we're due next month, June 8th 
Not been the easiest of relationships, but we're getting there, making sure that we're prepared is bringing us closer. First time for both of us so plenty of nerves!
I'm also worried about lack of connection, but hopeful that instincts will kick in!
Any tips?!
Not been the easiest of relationships, but we're getting there, making sure that we're prepared is bringing us closer. First time for both of us so plenty of nerves!
I'm also worried about lack of connection, but hopeful that instincts will kick in!
Any tips?!
Soldato
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Thought I'd post in here - we're due next month, June 8th
Not been the easiest of relationships, but we're getting there, making sure that we're prepared is bringing us closer. First time for both of us so plenty of nerves!
I'm also worried about lack of connection, but hopeful that instincts will kick in!
Any tips?!
First few weeks. Take it a day at a time.
If you are sharing the night feed duty, then I highly recommend taking a couple of weeks off work. Nap when the baby does.
Try not to panic is the main thing.
I know through this thread that there were a few of us expecting little ones around the same time period, just wondering how you're all getting on?
Elsie is 5 months now, very happy, very playful but I do wish she'd get the hang of sleeping through the night, she's only managed it once, and been close a couple of times but other than that its up a couple of times every night, I miss sleep
Other than that though its been an amazing year! Really looking forward to christmas, just need to keep the missus on a leash so she doesn't over spend...
Elsie is 5 months now, very happy, very playful but I do wish she'd get the hang of sleeping through the night, she's only managed it once, and been close a couple of times but other than that its up a couple of times every night, I miss sleep
Other than that though its been an amazing year! Really looking forward to christmas, just need to keep the missus on a leash so she doesn't over spend...
Caporegime
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8 and a half months in and not sleeping through yet, up 2-3 times a night still.
Wife won't sleep train her, thinks it's cruel. I'm all for it.
Wife won't sleep train her, thinks it's cruel. I'm all for it.
Soldato
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The 9months are over, its not 'her choice' anymore. Sleep training is the best thing we ever did. I got a 5 and a 2 year old, they go to bed at 8pm for the duration of the night. We get the whole evening to ourselves, happy parents make better parents imo.
Suspended
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I know through this thread that there were a few of us expecting little ones around the same time period, just wondering how you're all getting on?
Elsie is 5 months now, very happy, very playful but I do wish she'd get the hang of sleeping through the night, she's only managed it once, and been close a couple of times but other than that its up a couple of times every night, I miss sleep
Aww, love the name. My first daughter is called Elsie, my favourite name in the world.
I have 2.5, 1.5 and 6 month old girls. Sleep training is 100% the best thing to do if you want to have stress free parents, although we start around 9/10 months.
Our elder two go down at 6 and wake up at 6/7, so we get a decent evening and don't have to get up ridiculously early.
Our youngest currently goes down at about 7/8 but she still needs attending to throughout the night, and then wakes up for the day at about 9am.
In regards to the "connection" I only really had a instant connection with my first daughter, I think because I was around a lot more (as a uni student) and so I was always talking to her through the "tummy telephone" haha, and just had more time to bond. Don't worry about it though, it will come in time.
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I think the apprehension you feel is the underlying knowledge that you're just about to be demoted to bottom of the household. Below the dog and goldfish.
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This. Best thing we ever did with our two. Down at 7-8 and sleep through the night.
Soldato
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Rugrats are easy, its when they get older and have a mind of their own, is when it gets harder.
Soldato
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Same for us, our son is 3 now and has been an excellent sleeper as a result. Getting him into his toddler bed took a Bank Holiday weekend and he didn't like being told to go back to bed 4-5 times a night but he had no choice and quickly got used to it.
Soldato
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To echo what others are saying, getting them to sleep through the night regularly is essential for your own sanity. Lack of sleep will make you both too tired to function properly. You make stupid mistakes, you are on a short fuse and more prone to things like colds, back ache and so on.
Showing them who is boss is hard work, but you need to do it.
Showing them who is boss is hard work, but you need to do it.
Soldato
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Yea don't be scared of their tears. Your will is stronger than there's.
Soldato
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My son is two months old now and it's tough, it was tough when he was still in the womb because you've no physical connection aside from your misses' rapidly growing stomach and once I returned to work after paternity leave I found it incredibly difficult because I felt the bond I had started to build had been stripped away from me. It gets better and certainly as he grows older and is more awake during the day I'm able to have small interactions with him before and after work, things like helping bath him or reading him stories (even though he can't understand them yet or might be busy feeding) help to make you feel involved.
I think it's one of those things you have to accept, at least for the first few months, that is to say baby is going to have very little interest in you and there's going to be very little you will be able to do to engage with and comfort him. That's been my experience at any rate but I wouldn't go back to not having him (and quite frankly the lost sleep has put paid to any memory of a time before baby).
I think it's one of those things you have to accept, at least for the first few months, that is to say baby is going to have very little interest in you and there's going to be very little you will be able to do to engage with and comfort him. That's been my experience at any rate but I wouldn't go back to not having him (and quite frankly the lost sleep has put paid to any memory of a time before baby).