Dadpad: The essential guide for new dads
The essential guide for new dads…
As a new dad you will feel excited, but you may also feel left out, unsure and overwhelmed.
Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a father as it is life-changing. It can often turn out to be a time of great challenge and extreme stress for both mum and dad. This pressure along with a sense of struggling to navigate the unknown can sometimes become overwhelming. We recognise that fathers are important too and are working on ways in which we can include them in the support we provide.
The DadPad can help
The DadPad app is an evidence based app accessible to all fathers living in Sandwell and is FREE of charge. The DadPad app is packed with information to give new fathers guidance on how to develop the confidence and practical skills needed to help look after their babies’ physical and emotional needs.
Crucially, the app provides dads with guidance on how to support and seek help (when required) for their partners and themselves as they adjust to their new roles. This will help fathers cope better with the physical and emotional strains that fatherhood can place on individuals and relationships.
The app covers topics such as:
- How to feed, hold, change and clean your baby
- How to survive without sleep and coping with crying
- Getting to know your baby
- Home safety and first aid
- Looking after yourself and supporting your partner
It is designed to reduce your anxieties, create a strong bond and healthy attachment with your baby, build stronger family relationships and recognise when you or your partner might need to get help for your mental health.
There are also details of local support groups for new dads and sources of help available in Sandwell.
The DadPad is best utilised as early as possible during pregnancy, around birth and beyond, and provides guidance for babies and children up to the age of two. It’s particularly useful to have during paternity leave.
To access DadPad for free, simply download the app and enter your Sandwell postcode.
Download the Dadpad app from the Apple store for free here
Download the Dadpad app from the Google / Android store for free here