For Dads · Baby Care

Baby Care Basics

Nobody is born knowing how to change a nappy or settle a screaming newborn. Here’s everything you need to feel genuinely capable from day one.

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You already know more than you think

The anxiety most dads feel before their baby arrives is almost universal - and it’s almost always wrong. The skills needed to care for a newborn aren’t complex. They just feel unfamiliar. Nappies, baths, feeds, soothing: all of these can be learned in an afternoon and mastered within days.

The real advantage of doing these things yourself - rather than watching your partner do them - is confidence. Every nappy you change, every bath you give, every time you successfully settle a crying baby yourself builds the kind of practical trust that makes you genuinely useful for the next eighteen years.

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Nappies

Nappy changing: the basics

A newborn will need 8-12 nappy changes a day. That sounds like a lot. It isn’t once you’ve done it a few times - a nappy change takes about two minutes when you know what you’re doing.

Step by step:

Lay baby on a flat, safe surface (changing mat on the floor is fine)
Open the dirty nappy but don’t remove it yet - use it to wipe most of the mess forward
Lift baby’s bottom by holding both ankles gently in one hand
Slide out the dirty nappy, fold it up, put aside
Wipe front to back (especially important for girls)
Slide clean nappy underneath, fasten tabs snugly - one finger should fit at the waist
For boys: point penis downward before fastening to prevent leaks up the front

Nappy change essentials

Nappies (size 1 or newborn to start)
Unscented baby wipes or cotton wool + water
Barrier cream (Sudocrem, Metanium) for redness
Changing mat - wipe down after every use
Nappy sack or lidded bin nearby

Nappy rash

Red, sore skin around the nappy area. Usually caused by prolonged wetness. Change frequently, apply barrier cream at each change, and let baby have some nappy-free time each day. If it doesn’t improve in 3 days or develops yellow spots, see your GP.

Bathing

Bathing a newborn

Newborns don’t need a bath every day - two to three times a week is plenty. Until the umbilical cord stump falls off (usually 1-3 weeks), stick to “top and tail” washes rather than full submersion baths.

Top and tail wash

Lay baby on a towel on a warm, flat surface
Use cotton wool dampened with warm water
Clean eyes from inner to outer corner - fresh cotton for each eye
Face, neck folds (milk collects here), behind ears
Clean hands and feet, then nappy area last

Full bath

Fill baby bath with 2-3 inches of warm water - test with elbow, not hand
Support baby’s head and neck at all times - your non-dominant arm under head, hand holding far shoulder
Lower baby in feet first, keeping head above water
Use your free hand to wash - no soap needed, plain water is fine for newborns
Lift out supporting head, wrap immediately in warm towel
Dry all the folds: neck, armpits, groin, behind knees

Never leave baby unattended in water

A baby can drown in 2 inches of water in less than a minute. If the doorbell goes, bring baby with you. Get everything you need ready before you start the bath.

Feeding

Your role in feeding

If breastfeeding

You can’t breastfeed but you can do everything else. Bring baby to your partner during night feeds so she doesn’t have to get up. Wind baby afterwards. Change the pre-feed nappy. Make sure she has water, snacks, and her phone within reach during feeds - breastfeeding sessions can last 40+ minutes, especially in the early weeks.

Burping: hold baby upright against your shoulder and rub or pat the back in circular motions. Over-the-knee works too - baby face-down across your lap, supporting the head. Give it a couple of minutes after feeds.

If formula feeding

This is where you can be fully hands-on from day one. Make up formula fresh each time - never batch-make and reheat. Use freshly boiled water that’s cooled to at least 70°C (let it stand for 30 minutes after boiling).

Always add powder to water, not water to powder
Level off scoops - no heaping
Test temperature on wrist before feeding
Discard unfinished formula - don’t save and reheat
Sterilise bottles until at least 12 months

Soothing

What to do when baby won’t stop crying

Newborns cry. A lot. In the early weeks it’s essentially their only form of communication. The first job is to run through the checklist of likely causes. The second is to try different soothing techniques until something works.

Run through this list first

Hungry - last feed more than 2 hours ago?
Dirty nappy - check and change
Too hot or cold - chest should feel warm, not hot or cool
Overstimulated - too much noise, light, handling
Overtired - missed a sleep window
Wind - needs a burp, try different positions
Just needs contact - wants to be held

Soothing techniques that work

Swaddle - wrap snugly in a muslin with arms in, mimics womb
Shush - loud white noise near baby’s ear, louder than the crying
Sway/rock - rhythmic movement, babies are used to being rocked in the womb
Suck - dummy, finger, or feeding
Side/stomach position - hold baby on their side against your chest (don’t put them to sleep this way)
Skin-to-skin - your chest, their skin - calms both of you

These are sometimes called the “5 S’s” (Dr Harvey Karp’s method). They work best in combination.

If you’re at breaking point

If you’ve tried everything and baby won’t stop crying and you can feel yourself getting overwhelmed - put baby down in a safe place (cot, on their back) and step away for two minutes. A crying baby is safe. A baby shaken in frustration is not. Take a breath. Come back calmer. This is not failure - this is good parenting.

Settling

Getting baby to sleep

Safe sleep is the non-negotiable here. Beyond that, there is no single method that works for all babies - finding what works for yours is part of the early parenting experience.

Safe sleep (every time, every nap)

On their back - always
In their own sleep space - moses basket, crib, or cot
In your room for the first 6 months
Firm, flat mattress - no pillows, bumpers, or loose bedding
Room temperature 16-20°C
No smoking near baby - ever

Settling techniques

Feed to sleep - normal and fine for newborns
Motion - pram walk, car ride, rocking
White noise - apps, machines, or a fan
Swaddle then put down - snug wrap reduces startle reflex that wakes babies
Dummy - reduces SIDS risk, offer from 4 weeks if breastfeeding is established
Skin-to-skin nap - lying on your chest counts as supervised sleep

Newborns sleep 14-17 hours a day in short bursts. They have no day/night rhythm yet - that develops around 3-4 months. You’re not doing anything wrong.

Baby Care Guides

Go deeper

Nappies

How to change a diaper, step by step

The full method, leak-proofing tricks, cord care, and how to prevent nappy rash.

Read →

Bathing

Bathing your newborn safely

Top-and-tail washes, the first full bath, cord care, and the water-safety rule that never bends.

Read →

Safe Sleep

Safe sleep: the full guide

The ABCs of safe sleep, room sharing, temperature, swaddling, and reducing SIDS risk.

Read →

Bonding

Skin-to-skin and the golden hour

Why early skin-to-skin matters, how it works, and how to make the most of those first weeks.

Read →

Feeding

Formula feeding: a beginner’s guide

Making up bottles safely, how much and how often, and winding after a feed.

Read →

Survival

Sleep tips for exhausted parents

Realistic ways to get more rest in the newborn fog, for both of you.

Read →

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Relationships & Identity

How becoming a dad changes your relationship, your sense of self, and how to navigate both.

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Medical disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor, midwife, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.