Becoming a father will be one of the greatest moments of your life, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still hold some fear. There’s lots of advice out there for new mothers, but not as much for what you need to do as a father. Here are some tips and advice for new dads in the hope of calming some of your fears and helping you on the path to raising your child.

Be Financially Stable

Being financially stable might seem like an obvious point to make but sometimes people don’t realize the financial cost of having a child. You don’t want to have to spend all your time worrying where your family’s next meal is coming from because it will have a negative effect on your relationship with your child. Having a degree is a great way to give you more job options and possibly increase your prospects in your current job. If paying for college education upfront is not an option, you can take out a private student loan. You can make a dent in your tuition without the need for a cosigner to guarantee your loan. You’ll never regret investing in your education.

Talk to People

Your family and friends are going to be the best support network you have and you will definitely need to have a support network. You will have access to people who have been in your position and will have had the same fears and difficulties you are facing. Even the good emotions can be hard to process sometimes, so make sure you talk about them. The worst thing you can do is suffer in silence.

Don’t Fear Making Mistakes

You have to realize that you are going to make mistakes. Not everyone is perfect, and there is no guide that tells us how to raise a child. People can give you a general idea or make suggestions but having a child means you are dealing with a human element and babies and humans are unpredictable. There will be situations where your baby doesn’t stop crying and you don’t know what to do. You may not do the right thing, but the most important point is you learn from it.

Establish a Routine

Having a child is going to completely change your routine. Babies especially have no concept of time and they’re not going to decide it’s not a good time to cry at 5am in the morning. This is why you need to start setting a routine which you can stick to. As baby grows, they will also fall into the same routine. You should also include some time for yourself within the routine, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Without it, you risk burning yourself out.

Be Tolerant

You may think you’re tolerant but having a child will test every level of that tolerance. In your moments of intolerance, it is important to recognize that you’re not angry with the child, it’s just a process of getting used to the changes which have been made to your entire life and family. Be tolerant with yourself, too. You will make mistakes, but your tolerance will allow your child to flourish into a mentally healthy and stable adult and they will be eternally grateful.