Advice from all the fathers out there!

[CUatTheEnd]

Congrats! Our first daughter did not sleep through the night until 8mo. It was draining on both of us. We shared shifts through the night, because I usually stay up late anyway (i.e. midnight or 1am) and my wife went to bed around 8pm or 9pm, I would do the feeding before midnight and she would do the one around 3am or so then I would do the morning around 6am before I went to work. Like others said she needs a break more than you, her hormones and emotions are running super high, they don't feel good about themselves, their bodies are trying to get back to normal...yada...yada....yada. As long as the baby has food and a clean diaper they are good to go, even though they cry...since that is what they do. Everyone is different and it's not easy. Be as much help as you can around the house, dishes, laundry ect. Let her get a pedicure or manicure and relax a bit. Best Wishes and congrats again!

[killianak9]

Just a thought but any of us dads or grandpa's interested in getting together with the youngins? Maybe meet up at a monkey business, library, snow activities, whatever?
Kill two birds with one stone: meet like minded members and give the wife some much needed time!

Sorry lex, not trying to high jack

[JohnnyEgo]

Sounds like fun. There is the Jumping in Loveland as well. Whenever I have my boy and his cousins (two other four year olds), I load them up on sugary apple juice and let them loose in Jumping. About an hour and a half later, the sugar crash hits at the same time as the physical exhaustion, and they all go right to sleep for an hour or two. That said, I'd be willing to travel an hour or so for a play date. I can bring a four year old and some baked goods. I'm also good at holding other people's kids, as long as I get to give them back.

[hurley842002]

Just a thought but any of us dads or grandpa's interested in getting together with the youngins? Maybe meet up at a monkey business, library, snow activities, whatever?
Kill two birds with one stone: meet like minded members and give the wife some much needed time!

Sorry lex, not trying to high jack

I'd be down for something, bring my oldest and let mom stay with the baby.

[lex137]

I'd meet up with you guys for sure, thanks again everyone. Defiantly makes me feel better reading peoples post and helps with all the encouragement! Amazing post JohnnyEgo, amazing!

[Big John]

I am so in love with this gun...

[Great-Kazoo]

Sounds like fun. There is the Jumping in Loveland as well. Whenever I have my boy and his cousins (two other four year olds), I load them up on sugary apple juice and let them loose in Jumping. About an hour and a half later, the sugar crash hits at the same time as the physical exhaustion, and they all go right to sleep for an hour or two. That said, I'd be willing to travel an hour or so for a play date. I can bring a four year old and some baked goods. I'm also good at holding other people's kids, as long as I get to give them back.

WHATEVER anyone does. DO NOT LET HIM BRING ANYTHING COOKED WITH CHOCOLATE. UNLESS it's in a cake, brownies or chocolate.

I am so in love with this gun...

Be nice if he had time to hit the range.

[gnihcraes]

I had no clue what I was going to do as a dad/father and took the chance anyways. Knowing and telling myself it was time to do the right thing. It's not about me and my toys anymore, it's about the kids and making a family.

A rough few years. Kids didn't want to sleep until about 3 and 5 years. When the kid sleeps, so do you. Unfortunately we ended up with the kids in our bed a lot of the times just to get some sleep. Bad thing to do because you can't get them back in their beds.

Wife stayed home for the first 5 years, daycare after that. No matter how tired I was from work, I had to give her time away. Walk in the door, kick the wife out. Learn as you go with the kid(s) and try not to break them when she's away. After a few ER visits you learn that kids "Bounce" pretty well and survive fine.

There is always a friend, neighbor or someone to call if you need kid help. If the kid won't stop crying and you don't know why, call someone to help. Most parents have been there. A few times, I don't think anyone in the house wasn't crying or in diapers for some reason. (adults too!) Put the kid in a safe place and go outside for a moment.

My wife ended up bed ridden at the hospital for the 2nd kid. I was home alone with a 2 year old and trying to figure him out, the house duties and visit the wife. You just figure it out. You're not the first one to do this. (^ someone else said the same)

Do as much as you can for the wife and kid.

[hurley842002]

My wife ended up bed ridden at the hospital for the 2nd kid. I was home alone with a 2 year old and trying to figure him out, the house duties and visit the wife.

Similar thing happened to me recently, probably the most freaked out I've ever been. My wife ended up in the hospital overnight, and the thought of being without my "teammate" with a one month old and an 18 month old was slightly unsettling, but I made it just fine, and both children are alive to talk about it lol.

Maybe we should turn this into a "war stories of fatherhood" thread lol.

[killianak9]

Sounds like fun. There is the Jumping in Loveland as well. Whenever I have my boy and his cousins (two other four year olds), I load them up on sugary apple juice and let them loose in Jumping. About an hour and a half later, the sugar crash hits at the same time as the physical exhaustion, and they all go right to sleep for an hour or two. That said, I'd be willing to travel an hour or so for a play date. I can bring a four year old and some baked goods. I'm also good at holding other people's kids, as long as I get to give them back.

I'd be down for something, bring my oldest and let mom stay with the baby.

I'd meet up with you guys for sure, thanks again everyone. Defiantly makes me feel better reading peoples post and helps with all the encouragement! Amazing post JohnnyEgo, amazing!

Sounds good guys
I'll be doing the same Hurley ! Like Johnnys idea with the sugar, exhausted nap idea.
Do week days/weekends work best for every one?
Maybe a 1000-1300 time ?
What is good for everyone's schedule