Being a New Dad - 7 Mistakes I Made

[@dadverb]

Our course for expectant dads is live and can be found here: www.fatherfigured.com/ Feel free to share any mistakes you've made. (Funny stories especially recommended!)

[@RuedRiisCom]

Check the link - not working for me, at least.

[@dak1545]

Our first is 9 months, I think the main mistake we made was listening to our parents too much, and taking what they said as the only way to do things right. As you said, every child is different, and you need to figure out what works best for you and your family. After we figured that out, things went so much smoother.

[@nickbradley]

8 weeks until I have my first! Thank you for all you’ve shared. Doing my best to avoid as many mistakes as I can, but I know it’s inevitable.

[@dadverb]

Congrats Nick! There's always going to be missteps but just take it one day at a time and it'll be great.

[@jennthedoula7037]

LOVE IT! Dad Verb is certainly worth binge-watching because he's genuine, super practical and even honest enough to tell you that you don't even have to listen to him! This coming from a homeschooling mom of 5, married for 27 years to a licensed Mental Health Counselor, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator. I'm so thrilled to find some down-to-earth resources to share with my clients and students that I KNOW they will be able to put to good use!!

[@Kaylor153]

A hearty amen for marriage being the core of a family. This is so important.

[@bellebohler6408]

I swear you are the best at explaining everything. Extremely relatable and your videos reminds me that I'm also a human being that makes mistakes. Thank you for the reminder, I hope everyone in the family is doing well.

[@patriciamckissack6702]

Not accepting help when offered. This happens way too often. Also not asking for help even if hasn't been offered. Let others know you need the help.

[@dadverb]

This was originally in my plan for the video but I cut it for time before I started shooting. Should have included it, because it's so true. I often felt like I wasn't "worthy" of help from others.

[@YouKnowIhadToDoItToEm]

I’ve found I have to regularly talk my wife off the edge of the cliff with our first son’s developmental goals. I keep telling her that every baby is different (sidebar-we’re 99.9% sure he’s not developmentally disabled), and he’ll reach his goals when he reaches them. I jokingly remind her that I didn’t start talking until I was 3 (true story). Dads, it’s important for us to be the rock moms need us to be during this time because: 1. Many of their bodies are still hormonally/chemically recovering from pregnancy; they need objective guidance not swayed by anything going on in their brains and 2. If you’re both first-time parents, remember it’s her first time too; she’s probably just as or more nervous/anxious about this than you are because she’s the mom.

[@Holdspacesession]

[@Jonathan-nk4tc]

The dating my wife one hit me hard. Gotta refocus that for sure

[@dadverb]

That was my biggest struggle for sure.

[@holly9017]

Thank you for this video! It was exactly what I needed to hear today. I’ve definitely been feeling the temptation to compare my kids to others. I hated when my parents did it to me so I hope I stop doing it too! I agree that social media can leave you exhausted, confused, and defeated. Some influencers make it seem as though parenting is easy and wonderful all the time. I rarely see other parents struggling so I sometimes feel like I’m doing something wrong! Thank you for your reassurance! We’re all just doing our best 😅🥺

[@dadverb]

Struggling with my kids right now. Particularly with screen time balance. Never not stressing and I can get in my own head for sure.

[@RiccoAbril]

Thank you for all your work bro I feel like i raised my firstborn with you on my side, now expecting a baby girl.

[@codynord2239]

Love the change in editing style. Love it for these types of videos and love the clean tight ones for reviews.

[@andygarcia899]

Love the content bro. About to be a new dad and this channel is super helpful. Really appreciate the aesthetic production

[@ryanwhite2606]

Hey man, I can definitely relate to some of these. Keep making that 🔥 content.

[@dadverb]

Thanks Ryan!

[@tommyers477]

this is an amazing video! The part about 'dating your wife' is very important, and something i need to improve upon!

[@patriciamckissack6702]

HAHAHA "Damnit! Those loveevry boxes!" HA! No joke tho

[@dadverb]

Definitely had moments when I was overanalyzed the ROI on those boxes 😂

[@patriciamckissack6702]

@@dadverb I'm guilty of it too for sure 😂 our son's speech therapist said though so long as you are playing with your child it really doesn't matter what toys you have. They couldn't count the number of times they had parents who just simply didn't know how to play with their kids and that was more of the issue than any toy or subscription they had. Love your videos! It's a breath of fresh air from the countless mom videos.

[@matthewmoyle4039]

Microwaves don't heat from the inside out, they heat from the outside in. But because of the shape of the waves they heat unevenly which is why they say not to heat milk with them.

[@mschinchin22]

In addition to the second hand clothes, can I also add “second hand” disposable diapers? What I mean is that if you go on FB marketplace, there are tons of parents selling half opened boxes of diapers because they overbought and their kids grew out of them. This is especially true at the smaller sizes (NB, 1, 2). I got diapers for literal pennies per diaper doing this. Now, I wasn’t very picky on brands, but because of that, I have basically tried all of the major ones out there (including Costco and Sam’s Club ones), and yeah, they’re all functionally the same. It’s more about changing them pretty regularly, and hey, when they’re only five cents a piece, I didn’t resent having to change my newborn so much.

[@anustinnewsam13]

#4 is HIGH YIELD!!! Thank you for this!!

[@AuthenTech]

Lovesac is the best 💪 easy to wash or replace covers, pillows, etc

[@dadverb]

I freaking wish I could afford Lovesac man. That's a definite wishlist item.

[@NinjaElephant]

So I‘m a smart guy and when reading this videos title I thought: I will totally add the important mistakes and here I am having a 2year old sleeping next to me trying to figure out a way to sneak out and just agreeing to all of your points. Wipes! Stupid new stuff! Worries about development 🙈, dating!

[@MatthewDavidT]

We have our first on our way and our West Elm couch was just delivered… lol. I’m not starting off too strong haha

[@christopherjesudas3874]

Amazing material. Thank you!

[@chaoselemental6759]

I’m still so new to parenting I don’t know WHAT mistakes I’m making! 😅

[@MrCargo9]

How about not realizing sooner that at least with my little one; we don't have a defined place to do diaper changes. We spent a lot on having an awesome chaging station to never use it. Why because in fact evey place we can lay our little one down is a changing table.

[@TheLoveLAB]

We absolutely love your videos , so informative, to the point, and put together so well, down to earth and relatable. We definitely fell into the everything must be new for our baby boy too lol. Were newbies though 🤷🏽‍♀

[@jordanpenny9612]

Get a $10 fabric shaver for you couch. A lot of high end fabrics go through a “pilling” stage and need to be shaved. Amazon or Walmart has them for cheap

[@nicolefisher4779]

You reminded me I needed more wipes haha! And hand me downs. I still only have one baby but after my wallet started to really feel the pinch we became open to some hand me downs for sure! We did however get a gently used backup car seat (for plane trips and if my MIL needed it for her car) from someone I trusted. Our main car seats we definitely splurged on 😂

[@LifeofWalts]

Loved it, thanks!!!

[@RafaelHernandez-hh6im]

Needed this video. Thank you Andrew!

[@shaffninalir5483]

Thanks for this bro this was honest and truthful. Many of the mistakes resonated with me, and I like that many focussed on Parents than Baby. I’m expecting a new one very soon will make sure to check out the course.

[@juanvalles8187]

Super great edit! love your work!

[@Emilia923]

#2, #4 and #7 really Resonated with me. 2- the other day I saw a boy who was my daughter’s age and he seemed to understand sharing and my daughter does not lol so it worried me 4- yes me and my husband have ran into this and now we are aware of it 7- seeing people on KZbin and how they’ve sleep trained their baby and how my daughter was not

[@dadverb]

Thanks for sharing, love hearing other people's experiences. #4 was my biggest learning experience.

[@mb1685]

1000%! Great info here, Andrew! Any tips/advice for the transition from 1 to 2?Perhaps a follow up to this video?

[@chaiguru1508]

We are expecting, in 1 week we will meet our little one :) After watching your video my husband went to the store to buy baby wipes :D

[@_PNW_Chris]

Hey man do you recommend any college funds to invest into?

[@svidasubandar]

Love your videos. Pls review Nuna Cudl

[@cenoviakrebs6179]

Thank you it gives others perspective on alternative. I think we all done things we live and learn. Its great to know we are humans and not robots..lol

[@dadverb]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching 😊

[@michaellove4948]

Yo, You and your wife are beautiful influential people. Please continue spreading the word of God and being a template for what a godly couple should be. God bless you and your family.

[@dadverb]

Thank you Michael!

[@RodijsRazmus]

Thanks for sharing the experience, like to not listen to influencers. Also Dad Verb. :D

[@adtc]

Why do you need to warm bottles? We just do room temperature.

[@holly9017]

We warmed our bottles because we used cold breast milk from the fridge. That way the milk could be warmed to at least room temp :)

[@dadverb]

Many people have milk stored in a fridge and need it warmed quickly for feeds.

[@DarenSpinelle]

Love all your videos, solid material but as a dad and doctor, that co-sleep thing... The research isn't pulling the recommendation out of thin air. About 3,500 babys die yearly from this. It's quite the unforgiving mistake. This practice has truly been going on since the beginning of parenting but so has the tragety.

[@stevenaguilar8331]

It’s CRAZY how many wipes we go through. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has them secretly stashed in the cars, bedrooms, living room, and most random areas that only we know where to find them haha. I’m bad at comparing my kids to others, especially when it comes to talking, social habits, and other milestones. I promised I wouldn’t do that anymore with my second born and just let him do his own thing!

[@aravind787]

What influencers is he talking about ?! Who follows influencers for raising kids ?! What has the world come to?!

[@michaelmonicararick50]

Thanks for the video, #2, #4, and #7 are reminders I need. #2 it is so easy to get too wrapped up in wether or not our baby is where she should be at a given point compared to what "experts" say who don't know my baby. It's an easy trap because we want to see our babies progress, and I often gauge my parenting ability by how my baby is doing at this or that. They are all different and are all individuals just like us. #4 because it is easy to lose sight of your marriage, and keeping tabs on how your spouse is doing and how your marriage is doing? As a first time dad it's too easy to let baby consume your time, thoughts, and attention outside of work. We had gotten away from taking care of our relationship and it certainly suffered for it. We decided we need us time, and date nights, there will always be people willing to help you have that time, don't feel bad taking them up on it. #7 I feel is related to #2, too many voices in your head just creates confusion, doubt, and uncertainty. It's hard to be confident when you take in so much conflicting information. It's important to take whatever you hear with a grain of salt, take from it what you can benefit from, disregard what doesn't work for you in your situation.