Dad/Partner-to-Be Checklist
Both parents are "pregnant" and can take advantage of the time before baby arrives to prepare for their new bundle of joy!
Below are some things the new dad or partner can do to prepare for parenthood:
- Attend prenatal appointments, especially the ultrasound (around the 20th week).
- Purchase or borrow parenting books, tapes, or videos.
- Attend childbirth or Lamaze classes with the mom-to-be.
- Visit the hospital or birthing center tour with the mom-to-be.
- Research cord blood banking
- Attend parenting classes or new fathers support groups.
- Increase circle of friends with children for both you and your partner.
- Check on and request for paternity leave or leave of absence.
- Assist the mother-to-be in finding a pediatrician.
- Assist the mother-to-be in setting up the nursery.
- Develop list of volunteers to help out after the baby arrives.
- Discuss dividing household and parenting responsibilities.
- Set up accounts with local eateries, restaurants and grocery stores.
- Set up a savings account or life insurance policy for your future family.
- Assist the new mother in locating and securing childcare if and when she returns to work.
- Purchase a pager or cell phone for both you and the new mother.
- Finalize the "plan of action" for when the mother-to-be goes into labor.
- Make sure you have all needed emergency information close at hand.
- Make sure you have her hospital suitcase (and yours as well!) packed and ready to go.
- Assist in writing out birth announcements, notifying family and friends, etc.
- RELAX and REJOICE in the joy of being a new parent!
| 
