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What's on Your Mind, Dad?
9 New-Dad Questions Answered
By Mark Stackpole
5. What if the little boy I had been planning for actually turns out to be, you know, a little girl?
"Then you will have two women in your life that you will never truly understand," Dr. Panaccione says. "And it's two against one; you might never get your way again. But just wait until she becomes 'Daddy's Girl'. You wouldn't have it any other way." 6. What if the baby doesn't like me?
"It can often seem this way," Dr. Panaccione says. "When a new dad tries to pick up the baby and hold her, she might cry, so it may seem like she likes Mom best. Not necessarily. It's not a matter of like or dislike; it's a matter of comfort. The baby is used to Mom's voice, touch and scent. "You need to give her a sense of comfort all your own," she says. "Do not give her to Mom immediately if she cries. You want her to learn that there is more than one person in the house who can provide comfort and take care of her needs. Sing to her, rock her, hold her close. This will help her to associate your voice, scent and closeness with safety and comfort. If you keep your distance, she won't come to trust you or know you as a source of security."
7. I have to get up and go to work in the morning. When do I sleep?
"This is something to negotiate with your wife," Dr. Panaccione says. "Having expressed milk (breast milk ready for a bottle) can help Mom sleep – your turn! You may agree to sleep in another room during the work week in order to be rested enough and then take feeding duty all weekend. 
"Be sensitive that you are both sleep-deprived," she says. "'It's more important that I get some sleep because I have to go to work' just won't fly."
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