Ten tips for new Dads

9. Talk to other new (and old) dads
Just as mums benefit enormously from meeting and sharing tips and advice with other new mums at baby groups and coffee mornings - not to mention on message boards - dads can help each other out by talking about their experiences.

One of my best friends became a father six months before I did and there are two more new dads in my office. And of course, my dad is an instant source of useful information.

Apart from practical baby tips, it's definitely beneficial to discuss what it's like to be a father. While an entire industry has developed around 'mother and baby', there is relatively little readily-available support material for new dads.

Especially in the early days of baby's life, your 'hands-on' involvement as a dad is limited and it can be difficult to define what your role actually is. This tends to fall into place naturally over time but the need to share views and any doubts or fears you may have remains.

10. Enjoy it!
I spent Saturday evening reassuring my best friend, who is due to be a dad in six months' time that it is the best experience he will ever go through. Yes, it's sometimes exhausting and yes, there will be some tough times to negotiate but, ultimately, caring for your new baby is the most rewarding task you will ever undertake.

Until you become a father it is impossible to relate to how it enriches your life and most of my non-father mates still struggle to understand my willingness to kiss goodbye to regular Saturday nights at the pub.

But, believe it or not, I actually count my reduced consumption of alcohol and fewer weekends spending money I haven't got as a positive. And having a baby doesn't mean the end of your social life, it just means when you do get a baby-sitter, you tend to make the most of it.

I am currently looking forward to taking Kieran swimming for the first time and can't wait to see him walk, then run, ride his first bike and kick a ball round the park.

My advice if you're thinking of becoming a father? Do it!