7 Changes You Experience When You Become a Father

7 Changes You Experience When You Become a Father
María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez.

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Fathers, don’t let the arrival of this new life take you by surprise. You should be prepared to face some of the following realities:

1. You’ll have less time to dedicate to the activities you enjoyed before.

You might be used to watching soccer with your friends or spending hours in front of the television. However, with a newborn in the house, you’re going to have to be more resourceful to find the time for that.

Naturally, you need time for yourself. But the care and attention that your children need will make it harder for you to find that space.

changes you experience when you become a father

2. You will have more responsibilities.

Fatherhood is one of the greatest experiences any man can have. But the joys of fatherhood also carry their share of extra responsibility. Your new routine as a father will include caring for the sick, feeding, changing diapers, doing chores, etc. You will need to organize your time in order to take on all of these tasks the best way possible.

3. You will put your abilities to the test. 

Being a father means doing a lot of things you’ve never done before. Your child will be your top priority. In turn, you will develop abilities you never thought yourself capable of. Some of the things you will have to learn to do include: picking up your baby, feeding him, soothing him, and making him laugh.

4. The way you manage your money will need to be different.

One of the changes that occurs when you become a father revolves around your finances. Your new household budget will include medical bills, baby clothes, diapers, and perhaps baby formula. You might also want to start setting aside funds for your child’s future education. Keeping your finances in order is an important way to start your career as a father.

5. You won’t want to leave your baby during the day.

After a long week at work, you’ll look forward anxiously to spending time with your kids. And remember that both mothers and fathers need to spend time with friends and family. Otherwise, it’s easy to become a prisoner in your own home.

father hugging pregnant woman's belly

6. Your social circle might go through some modifications.

From the moment you become a father, you will start to spend more time with other couples who are going through the same process. Maintaining your relationship with single friends or friends without children will be difficult. The places you visit and the things you do will now revolve around your children.

7. You will discover the feminine side you never knew you had .

Your more sensitive side with flourish when you become a father. When you see yourself in your little baby, you will feel love and tenderness like never before. It’s a sensation you never knew existed. The activities you used to consider “too feminine” won’t be an issue anymore. You’ll do anything for your child .

Recommendations for new fathers and fathers-to-be

  • Time is the best gift you can give to your child. Take advantage of every moment you have to share with your children. Seeing your little ones grow up is a privilege you can’t deny yourself.
  • Be tolerant. Remember that your role is to teach your children everything they need to know. At times, you’ll feel like you’re about to lose your patience. Just look at their little faces – full of tenderness – and take a deep breath.
  • Talk to them and play with them. Your movements and gestures will be your baby’s best friends during her first year of life. Your child will learn easier through movement.
  • Pay attention to your children‘s feelings. Each time your children express themselves, they do so expecting you to respond. As adults, we hate to feel like we’re talking to a wall. In the same way, your children need to know they are seen and heard.
  • Love and discipline: The perfect combination. Educating your children with love is a key to their formation as human beings. Give them all your affection, but also teach them the correct way to behave.

You might think now that these changes seem a bit too extreme. But once you have your child’s love, you will have all the recompense you need for so much sacrifice. You’ll feel like the luckiest man in the world each time your child gives you a hug or a kiss.

Enjoy this new time in your life. Gladly receive this new version of yourself. Welcome your new paternal self with open arms. You’re a daddy!


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.