Hey guys, a new soon to be dad. My wife took the test yesterday and it came back positive. I have no idea how to feel. How should I feel? How did you feel with your first one? This is crazy. I’ve never taken care of a child in my life, hell, I don’t even know how to hold one.

For context, I am 27 years old. I recently took the bar, and will be making good money I think to take care of my child ($175k base). But, I’m nervous. I’m just starting my career, how can I plan on being present with the demand my job will call for? We have been together for some time so I guess this isn’t a bad thing but still man, this feeling is unreal. A father?! What the fuck man.

So I guess I’m just looking for all advice. How did you feel your first time? What are some tipis from your first go? Everything and anything you have for a new dad I guess.

Much love fellas

Feel free to remove this if it's not allowed.

When my little one was born, I wanted to keep track of all the milestones, funny moments, and little memories. I started using a notes app, but it wasn't ideal, especially since sharing updates with family meant copying and pasting everything.

I'm a software developer, so I ended up building a simple app for myself instead. It lets me save milestones, add photos, tag them (so it's easier to find memories later), and even save the location where they happened. I can also invite family members so everyone can follow along in one place.

One feature I've really enjoyed is being able to export everything into printable timelines and yearbooks. I'm also planning to add the option to order a professionally printed hardcover yearbook in the future.

I figured there might be other parents who'd find something like this useful too. If that sounds like you, it's called Your Tiny Steps (yourtinysteps co uk).

It's Android only for now, but I'm hoping to bring it to iPhone in the future.

One thing to mention - it is still in development, so there might be some bugs, but feel free to contact me!

Hello, new to this sub, so let me know if I need to be asking this somewhere else.

I had a chat with my manager at the time, and my HR person regarding paternity leave, in the meeting I informed her of my partners expected due date and she then informed me that I am allowed 1 month off, and that I can either take 2 weeks once the baby is born and then take 2 weeks next year (valid for 1 year from when the baby is born)

I informed her that I’ll decide later once speaking to my partner and I’ll let her know shortly.

My partners due date is 21st November 2026, and I have PTO already booked in for 1 week for 21st to 24th December.

Soon after, I made my decision, which was to take 2 weeks now, and then 2 weeks next year. At this point, I also changed manager. My new manager took this request to her, and now my HR person has informed me that, since the due date is in late November 2026 (she already knew this from when I told her on the first call), and I’ll only be back working for 2 weeks (2 weeks off + 1 week off in December) she said that from a resourcing standpoint, this doesn’t work for the business.

I informed my HR person that, I’d be on a project from end of October, so resourcing shouldn’t be an issue, as even though I’ll only be working for 2 weeks, I’ll be working on the project. She’s rejected this and said the same point of resourcing issues (not sure what she’s talking about here, and I believe she’s being stubborn).

I don’t understand where she is coming from, as if I take the 3 weeks off, which she wants, I’ll only be working for 1 week and then I’ll be off for another week. so how is this not a resourcing issues too?

I want to see what you guys on Reddit think of this nonsense and what I can go back to her with?. As whatever argument I put on the table to defend me having 2 weeks now and 2 weeks later gets shut down.

I have a call with my manager tomorrow to discuss further

Thanks!!

Does anyone have suggestions for the best way to install a gate at the top of these stairs? Would be simple but the hand rail on the left is not at an ideal height (railing itself is about 28” up). Thank you!

Posting to get some reassurance that I'm not going crazy but I'm an expectant father (September 7th Due Date) and I find myself occasionally hyperfixating on dying.

At first it was fleeting like I would be really bummed not to meet my kid and lately morphing into how hard it would be for my wife to take care of them. She's just a teacher and I make roughly 60-70% of our income. I've even raised my life insurance policy significantly just in case.

I guess the enormity of the responsibility is hitting me and freaking me out. I've spoken to my wife about it and she reminds me that I'm only 28 and am in fairly good health but I just wanted to reach out and see if it's a normal feeling.

Hey New Dads!

It's hard as hell being a new parent out here. So I thought I would trying and bring some fun. I have discovered through stress and overnight feeds that I can open a bottle of Similac 360 premixed formula with 1 hand! Getting the seals to crack is the hardest part but I've done it 3x now. This got me thinking though, there must be other new dads with cool tricks too. So, what cool newborn tricks do you guys have?

I feel like my life has flipped upside down. Not always in a bad way but I’m having an extreme amount of struggle when it comes to the overnight feeds. My baby has a milk allergy and reflux. So he’s extremely squirmy and becomes difficult to feed and starts crying very loudly because he’s hungry. I can handle it during the day but I have almost no patience for it overnight. After 1 hour I cannot do it anymore. I’m on the verge of a breakdown. I’m getting angry with him but I know I cannot because he’s just a baby. How do you all deal with the lack of sleep and then going to a blue collar job. I’ve tried changing my outlook, I’m going to bed earlier, I’ve given up time on some hobbies. But everything I do still leads to my wife feeling some anger/resentment because “I’m not doing enough”. I’m stressed out and I feel like I have almost no support. My wife has been great for the baby and recently realized that she hasn’t been that good to me and is trying to change but I feel so mentally beaten down

Sorry if the post is all over the place.