Nobody hands a fresh "how-to" manual to a new dad at the hospital door. It’s pretty common to feel a little overwhelmed when you’re handed a stack of discharge papers and a tiny person who already has strong opinions about everything. 

While your partner has had the chance to feel this little one grow inside of them for the past nine months, you may feel as if you’ve only just met this cute stranger and are now expected to anticipate their every need. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by new dadhood or are unsure what to expect, it can help to know that a lot of dads have felt the same way. The good news is, fathers across the board also talk about having beautiful experiences with their babies that make all those early worries fade away. 

Here are just a few of the top highlights of fatherhood. 

1. The First Time Your Baby Recognizes You

Every seasoned dad remembers this moment. You walk into the room, and your baby’s whole face lights up. Maybe it starts with a gummy grin from the bouncer seat. A few months later, it might be the sound of little hands and knees slapping across the floor as your crawler races to meet you at the door after work.

Either way, it’s one of the top parenting experiences that dads talk about. For weeks, you’ve been rocking, burping, and changing diapers without much feedback from your little audience. Then one day, your baby looks at you and clearly knows exactly who you are and sees you as the most important guy in the room.

2. Finding Your Groove with Soothing

Many dads find their groove with soothing the baby sooner than they expect. Your particular skillset might be the perfect bedtime bounce. Or maybe bath time will be your nightly stand-up show, complete with silly voices and a rubber duck routine that keeps your little one’s attention long enough to wash their hair. (Just don’t quit your day job.) 

Obviously it’s not a competition. But if your partner starts to hand over the baby when they won’t settle down and says, “Can you do the thing?” you’re allowed to feel a little proud. 

3. The Payoff After a Slow Start

The first few weeks can feel a bit lopsided for some parents. Newborns often want mom for feeding, comfort, and pretty much everything else. Many dads feel like the backup parent during those early days. It’s completely normal and, thankfully, completely temporary.

As your baby grows more alert and curious, your time with them will start to feel more interactive. Tummy time chats, peek-a-boo, and all those long walks around the block will start to add up. One day you realize the baby who only wanted mom now reaches for you, too. Maybe the bond with dad will take a little longer to fully show up, but don’t forget that you’re building it from day one.

4. Watching Your Partner Become a Mother

Few things compare to seeing the person you love step into motherhood. You get a front-row seat as she (or he or they) discovers this new part of self blossom out of nowhere. Many dads say that watching their partner become a mother adds a whole new layer of respect and appreciation to their relationship and makes them even more proud to be building their family together.

5. Reliving Your Own Childhood

Becoming a dad has a funny way of unlocking memories you forgot you had. You start singing a nursery rhyme and realize you still know every word. You pull old books out of storage that you used to read every night with your own parents. Sharing these pieces of their childhood with their babies often brings dads even greater appreciation for their moms and dads. 

Fatherhood comes with plenty of sleepless nights and steep learning curves, but it also brings moments you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. To all the new dads out there, soak it in. Some of the best highlights are still on their way.