Parenting 101 Videos
Some skills are easier to learn by watching someone's hands than by reading a list. This topic guide explains what our parenting basics videos for new parents cover, the hands-on skills dads should be comfortable with in the first month, and how to practice before the baby is in your arms at 3 a.m.
The series focuses on the daily care tasks that fill most of a newborn's day. It's aimed at first-time parents, but it's also useful for grandparents, babysitters and dads who want a refresher before baby number two.
Grab a doll, a stuffed animal or a rolled-up towel and practice. It feels silly, but it pays off. Swaddling a wiggling, crying newborn is much harder than folding a blanket around a teddy bear, so you want the motions to be automatic.
Practice the car seat harness, too. Buckle and adjust the straps until you can do it quickly. The chest clip should sit at armpit level, and the straps should be snug enough that you can't pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.
When you watch the soothing segments, notice how parents run through possibilities: hungry, wet, tired, too hot or cold, needs to burp, or just wants to be held. Then they try calming techniques like swaddling, holding the baby on their side or stomach (while awake and held), gentle shushing, swaying and sucking on a pacifier.
Some crying can't be fixed, and that's hard. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, put the baby down safely in the crib and step away for a few minutes. Never shake a baby. Call someone if you need to. That's a sign of good judgment, not failure.
Browse the Phenomenal Fatherhood video gallery for parenting basics content, and look in the community recordings section (https://phenomenalfatherhood.builda.space/community/Welcome-Fathers/recordings) for replays of group sessions on new-parent topics. Many hospitals also offer newborn care classes before delivery, which pair well with the videos.
For reliable written references, HealthyChildren.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the NIH Safe to Sleep campaign cover these same skills.
Dads who didn't grow up around babies often get the most out of the basics, since they may never have held a newborn before their own. Adoptive and foster dads, who might bring a baby home with little notice, also find a quick refresher helpful. And if a grandparent or sitter will be helping, watching the safe sleep and car seat segments together makes sure everyone follows the same rules.
The best way to get good at baby care is to do it a lot. Volunteer for the diaper changes, the baths and the evening fussy period. The more you handle your baby, the more you'll learn their cues, and the more your partner will trust you to take over.
If you have questions, ask them in the Phenomenal Fatherhood community or through Ask a Dad. For more on the first weeks, see the newborn care toolkit and the newborn care essentials page. For other foundational series, head back to parenting 101 videos.
FAQ
Holding and supporting a newborn, diapering, swaddling, burping, bathing, soothing, safe sleep setup and car seat use are the core skills most new parents need in the first weeks.
Check for hunger, a wet diaper, gas or temperature first. Then try swaddling, gentle swaying, shushing sounds, a pacifier or a walk. If nothing works and you're frustrated, put the baby down safely and take a short break.
Videos are a great way to see how things are done, but hands-on practice is what builds confidence. Use videos to learn the steps, then practice on a doll and with your baby.
Keep going
Parenting 101 Videos for DadsParenting 101 videos for dads on newborn basics, parenting styles, milestones, nutrition and discipline. See what each series teaches and where to watch.
Newborn Care Toolkit for DadsA newborn care toolkit for dads: home prep, sleep and feeding, health basics and bonding in the first months. Practical checklists for the first weeks home.
Newborn Care Essentials Every Dad Should KnowNewborn care for dads made simple: diapering, feeding support, safe sleep, bathing, soothing and the warning signs to call the doctor. Learn the basics here.First-Time Dad Guide: From Pregnancy to the First YearA first-time dad guide to pregnancy prep, newborn care, bonding and money. Plain advice for the months before and after your baby arrives. Start here.Ask a question, meet other dads in the 24/7 room, or join the community for resources and support at every stage.
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