The Essential Training Guide for Fatherhood

Across numerous episodes of my podcast, The Art of Fatherhood, a common sentiment is shared by a lot of my guests—there’s no guide to fatherhood. Sure, there are plenty of books out there, but most dads-to-be still feel unprepared and overwhelmed with all the information available. The reality is that preparing for parenthood requires some intense training, support, and the right nutrition along the way. Here are THE essential tips that I recommend for all future dads to feel more confident, healthy, and prepared.

Craft Your Essential Training Guide

If you are a sports fan, you know your favorite athletes work out in the off-season just as much as the in-season. This same mentality applies as a parent-to-be. Parenthood is a full-body workout. Here are a few parenting “drills” to prepare for the upcoming season of welcoming a new member into your family:

• Whether you can go for a quick jog in your neighborhood or at the gym, cardio is a must. You will be constantly running around in circles as a parent.
• Learn the art of quickly changing a diaper. 
• Practice walking quietly around the house. It’s a skill you will learn to appreciate when your baby is sleeping.
• Do some bicep curls with your car seat, and keep a gallon of water in the seat to get it weight-ready for your baby. 
• Learn how to fold onesies, because you will be washing and folding a TON of them. 
• Get in those neck exercises. As a new parent, your head needs to be on a swivel at all times to keep track of everyone and everything.

Build Your Team

When it comes to getting ready for parenthood, you need a strong team for support along the way. Make sure to reach out to friends and family. Pick their brains. Ask them for their best parenting tips. This way, you get all the good advice and the hard-learned mistakes they might have made over the years. Having supportive people in your corner is the ace in your pocket, and you will be grateful to have them for all the years to come.

You can also look into local groups for advice and support. These days, there are online communities and forums just for parents. Reach out to your fellow dads in these spaces for valuable knowledge and tips from their own experiences. Of course, you can always check out the Art of Fatherhood podcast episodes to get advice from dads all around the world.

Include These Nutrients in Your Diet

This is one area that you want to consider months in advance. You need to start eating right as early as possible to get the right nutrients, even before conception and pregnancy. This doesn’t just mean cutting down on pizza and making sure you get enough fruits and vegetables. The way you prep your body for conception impacts the genes that you pass on to your children and their lifelong health. As a dad, you’re 50% of the baby-making equation, so you want to be the healthiest you can be. This means you need to get in extra levels of certain nutrients like zinc, l-carnitine, folate, selenium, and CoQ10, just to name a few. However, you won’t always get these nutrients in your daily diet. A way to make sure you are covering the bases is through taking a daily prenatal (not a men’s multivitamin).

Beli is a company that specially formulates men’s and women’s prenatal and fertility supplements. I found out their prenatals were rated #1 according to Forbes Health. Their Beli Vitality for Men prenatal promotes optimal sperm count and overall sperm health. In addition it encourages egg penetration, and even supports your energy levels. Each capsule contains highly activated ingredients at just the right levels so that each nutrient is easily absorbed by your body. The entire Beli team is passionate about quality ingredients and sourcing, so you can feel good about taking their prenatals on a daily basis. If you’re thinking about starting or growing your family, make sure you head over to Belibaby.com and get stocked up on a monthly supply of their men’s prenatal.

Please note: I teamed up with Beli for this post and campaign and was compensated, but my thoughts are my own.