ANSWERS: 100
  • Remember that you're fulfilling your responsibility by working and she's helping you do that. The fact that this bothers you suggests to me that you're helping out in other ways (cooking, dishes, whatever) so you probably don't have anything to worry about. If it makes you feel better you can wake up on weekends, unless she's breastfeeing which you're not equipped to do anyway:)
  • i would keep my ears open for the baby to crynext and tell her "i've got this one. go back to sleep honey". if you are a heavy sleeper, tell her one day " the next time the baby needs a bottle, i got it. you deserve some rest."
  • does she work? My wife also gets up without waking me up and i thank her but don't feel guilty because i need to work for her and the baby. If she would have to work it would be different. However it is advisable to help her with the house activities when you can and to acknoledge her efforts.
  • Rest as well as you can to perform your best on the job. Let her be the caregiver for the baby. You will both be honoring your specific roles. If, on the other hand, you under-perform at work and lose the job, the whole family will suffer. IF necessary, consider paternity leave.
  • I guess that all depends if She has a job too. If she is a stay at home mom then she should have no problem with you getting the rest you need. A wife/mother is a caretaker if you take that away from her then she will feel void so allow her to feel needed and SLEEP!
  • Take him for a couple hours on the weekend so she can rest up. Make sure she packs the diaper bag and take him to a relative's house - or just take over everything for one afternoon at home. Babies that small just want to be held, eat, sleep, and poop. Those are the best times - enjoy them!
  • Don't feel guilty. Your wife and son depend on you to do your part at work. Do a good job and help out when you get home.
  • I always say if you feel quilty, get a quilt. My grandma makes them sometimes, but I'm sure you could find a quite a high quality quilt quite easily in a store somewhere.
  • I understand how you feel. It is important for your wife to get some nights of sleep that is uninterupted. This is important for all humans. The constant waking up and then going back to sleep is not restful and will soon cause exhaustion. On the night before your day off give her a break and you get up with your child. If you have 2 days off, in a row, you can do it the second night. This will allow her one or two full nights of fitful and uninterupted sleep before you go back to work. She gets rest and you get relieved of your guilt.
  • Mab. take turns getting up with the baby,everother nite,or..late shift is you,early shift her.I hopr that helps,those were the daze,they pass sooo quick enjoy!
  • Mab. take turns getting up with the baby,everother nite,or..late shift is you,early shift her.I hopr that helps,those were the daze,they pass sooo quick enjoy!
  • Remember than even though you work to provide, you also need to be partners in raising the baby, it is not her job alone (by the sounds of it, you are already well aware). If you happen to wake while she gets up ask if you can help or be sure to always say "Let me know if you need me" or "Come get me if you have troubles" I had a VERY hard time falling back asleep in the middle of the night, despite being extrememly fatigued so my husband would take our daughter after I nursed her and rock her back to sleep while I settled back in. Sometimes he would get up at night and bring the baby to me so I could nurse and then he would take her back to bed. Eventually you'll have a routine that works for everybody but while the baby is still so young, this can be a difficult time for some couples so be sure to stay flexible and take it day by day. Congrats on the baby!
  • Show her how much it means to you that she's being kind and making sure you get your sleep by...on nights that you don't have to work the next day you get up with him; when you get home from work give her some "her" time and take care of the baby for an hour or so; help her get things done around the house that she has a hard time doing with the baby. Simple little things like that let her know that you care and that she is appreciated for all she does.
  • Awww, how sweet you actually feel bad. My husband could care less and pulls the, I work all the time card. My advice is take over on the weekends (or whenever you get the day off) because mommies need rest!
  • The guilt may not go away. But just try to remember that when weekends come. And offer to help out as much as you can. Sometimes just taking care of small things. Like grocery shopping, fixing dinner, or just saying, Thank you and I love you. Will help.
  • Well, I always suggest men take paternity leave off work if they can get it. If you can't, try making dinner for her, or even breakfast, so she can sleep in a bit, if she can. I always did night shift with our daughter because I was breastfeeding her, as it were, but my husband helped out with a lot of things other than that, and did a lot of baby care, and really developed a strong bond with her I think partly for that.
  • Maybe give her a break on your days off
  • well when I was in the same situation, we would take turns getting up. One thing I did learn was when it was her turn and She came back to bed that was not a good time to try to tap that ass.
  • That's liberal guilt talking. You shouldn't feel bad about a mutual arrangement between you and your wife, regardless of how "politically incorrect" it is. The nuclear family still has a place in this world.
  • That's so sweet. Your wife is very lucky to have you! Maybe on your time off (after work and such), do a little extra baby-work and give her a break.
  • I don't mean sarcasm by this, but if she doesn't feed him a bottle, then there's not much you can do since you don't have lactating breasts :)
  • for what i have read you are doing what you can already by helping when you can. also make sure to make here feel good about herself.
  • You changed your name and your picture. I know you, you cannot hide. It's nice that you feel guilty, however, if you need to be rested for work to make money, allow your wife to do this. Maybe on the weekends you can help her out a bit so she can get some rest.
  • it is a good pain,stay connected to her and feel her pain. that is your strength and unity.Get some rest.THe first kid is the toughest.you will get the routine down and everything will be good.Congrats Daddy!!
  • Congratulations, Darling! Welcome to fatherhood. Well, you could have her pump a bottle and on a few nights you could do the night duty. Especially on the weekends. And you could let her sleep in then too. Run some of her errands and give her some Mommy Alone Time too. That really helps out.
  • Just shut up and go to bed, and dude, don't get jealous of the baby getting all the attention. She's so tired and cranky, she'll only needle you to death anyway...
  • Get up with your son. Take care of him. Feed him, change him. So what if you go to work dragging ass, you shouldn't miss out on any chance to take care of your son. Do all you can, don't miss a thing.
  • Alternate so that she can get some sleep too. It will greatly appreciated and it will all work out in the end. Mom's naturally get into the habit of sleeping when the baby sleeps but if you take some turns in the middle of the night she will love you for it and you will feel better about having done so.
  • IT SEEMS YOUR ALREADY 10 UP ON MOST GUYS CONTINUE WHAT YOUR DOING BUT SHE MAY WANT A DAY OF RELAXATION HAVE HER GO TO THE SPA WITH HER FRIENDS OR WHAT EVER SHES INTO BUT MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOURSELF SOMETIMES ON THE GET AWY DAYS ALOT OF NEW PARENTS SACRIFICE THERE RELATIONSHIP DUE TO THE NEW BABY DONT THATS NOT OKAY ENJOY YOUR TIME WITH HER AND THE BABY. MASSAGE HER FEET SHE WILL APPRECIATE IT ALOT JUST PAY ATTENTION TO HER AND LET HER KNOW YOUR THERE FOR HER WHENEVER.ITS GOOD TO SET A TIME WHEN ITS JUST YOU IN HER :) BE CAREFUL SHE S STILL FERTILE.
  • Don't feel guilty - she'll holler when she needs you. However, do bear in mind that if you ever want to be able to be the one to get the child to sleep at night, you should begin partaking in that now. Our 14 month old still nurses/co-sleeps with us. The natural progression has been for me to put her to sleep usually through nursing. Consequently, my husband has not yet been able to get her to sleep at night. Not a big deal to me, I like putting her to bed, but a big deal to him. He always wanted to be the daddy who read the baby a story while they drifted off to dreamland, smiling...
  • That's what she's supposed to do unless she had complications from child birth in which case YOU should help out. She's being kind to you. Sounds like you've got a winner.
  • The first few weeks of a child's life is very tiring and it seems like all a parent does is feed the baby, change the baby, and hold the baby. You will soon get into a routine that's comfortable for all three of you. The best thing you can do is be a great Loving Daddy, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty - change diapers, give baths, read stories, sing silly songs, help with the day to day tasks around the house. Also, treat your wife with love and respect..that love will reflect back to your child and enhance the love that you have for the baby. Between lack of sleep and adjusting hormones, your wife will need all the TLC she can get during this time. What a wonderful time in your life. Treasure it as it goes by very quickly...my kids are practically grown!
  • Dont feel guilty. i did the same thing. i even slept down stairs on the couch for the first 4 weeks so that he could rest. If you could take the baby for an hour or so after work it will mean everything to her let her have a rest take a shower or even go for a drive. even change a couple of nappies that is something my hubby has never done and our daughter is 6 months. pitch in when ever you can but dont feel guilty about her taking him to feed him, im sure she would want you to rest and not feel guilty. oh and congratulations enjoy this wonderful bundle of joy... :) just realised you question was posted in Aug. he must be 3 months now hope its all going well. :)
  • Give her the time you can--but you are the breadwinner and she can take catnaps...Love the baby, hold her, but as far as not getting enough rest--your job must come first.
  • I sleep in the living room w/ my daughter during the week, and my b/f sleeps in the bedroom. He takes over on weekends. Don't feel guilty. He has his job during the week, and I have mine... at home w/ the baby!
  • Does she get cranky that you aren't getting up? My hubby used to get up whenever the babies needed feeding until I told him that I would rather he slept because I enjoyed having the boys all to myself in the quiet of the night. I appreciated it more if he did the morning shift before work so that I could have a snooze. You need to ask her what she wants and comply with that.
  • I would help her when you can. My husband works and I stay home. He likes to let me sleep in on one of his days off and he looks after the kids.
  • I am no expert but unless you have lactating man boobs, I doubt you can feed the baby.
  • When you get in from work you can suggest that your wife take a nice, long hot bath while you look after your baby. At the weekend, you could both share getting up in the night, unless she's breast feeding, in which case, you can change his nappies/diapers either before or after his feed. If he's bottle fed, you can ensure all the bottles are clean and sterilised and you can make up feeds in readiness for your baby's next feed. All of these things will help a great deal.
  • Don't feel guilty. Help out when you can. You can help her by doing some house work...do some laundry, maybe help with cooking and dishes... You work so you do need to sleep. Just try making up for it when you come home from work and weekends.
  • i have been through the same thing twice and in march will be my third and FINAL. as others have said on here, you working and providing for your family is very important which i am sure you know and your wife also knows. your wife providing what only a women can provide for a child of that age is what she is doing and you should be very happy you have such a women, which i do as well. i tried getting up at night with the baby and take care of what they needed and momma always ended up coming to save the day or in this case the night anyway. so, what i did was, tried taken over most of the house chores, cooking, cleaning etc. i am still not allowed to do the laundry though, oops. also on the weekends i'd let her sleep in and have her get out of the house for awhile. i was worried to be at home with the baby by myself at first, but you'll get the hang of it. *tip, do not call her cell multiple times asking what to do, your a father now you can handle it, trust me on this one and assure her as she leaves you've got it under control, 9 times out of 10 she will not be gone long. new mothers can't stand to be away from their baby. also all of the positive encouragement you can give her right now will be greatly appreciated and just help where you can. thats about the best i can give you, enjoy it, as you've probably heard the grow up very fast and you'll wonder where your baby has gone. hope this helps.
  • You can take over the 2am feedings on Friday & Saturday nights, to give her a couple nights off.
  • When my first child was born, her father was a truck driver and spent countless hours on the road, so I was home with her alone, ALLOT, but the one thing he did for me was take her out for a few hours every weekend. Usually it was a kill two birds with one stone thing too...as I was at home doing as I pleased (napping or cleaning or whatever) he was out with our daughter doing the groceries or having the oil in the car changed or whatever needed to be done outside the home. It not only gave me a chance to rest up or catch up but it also gave him some one on one time with our daughter, even if he was doing other things. To this day (I am now a single mom of 2) she still wants to do groceries with her daddy and not her mommy. It was their special time together.
  • What you can do: Give her a break on the weekends when you are NOT working. Get up and take care of your baby boy on those weekend nights (providing you are all together on the weekends)-to bottlefeed formula or breastmilk, and let her know by your actions that you acknowledge and appreciate all the sleepless nights she's had for your child. Waking up every hour or two is exhausting-breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, she is being worn ragged. Even if she gets a nap or two during the day(from lack of sleep at night)she will snap eventually if you don't pick up some slack. Then you probably won't feel guilty anymore. She will highly appreciate it. BTW-My x-husband refused to help on weekdays and weekend nights. After 4months of me breastfeeding our daughter every night, sleeping on the couch because he 'didn't get good sleep' if I slept on the king sized bed with him: I was mentally done with our marriage. Within a year we were divorced. In my mind I had a much different view of him after that, so selfish of him. I really needed him at that time, I was exhausted. Don't let anything like that happen to your family. :)
  • Keep doing what you're doing. It would be wise to tell her what you have told us, and perhaps a gift or other gesture along with your heartfelt thanks is in order as well.
  • Your wife is a mother now and has a maternal instinct of taking care of the baby. When you have the time help her in any way you can. She will apperciate what ever you can do. Also remember to give her praise. Make sure you give the baby attention as well. NO need to feel guilty you are working and providing for you family way to go.
  • Pick up after yourself each and everytime. Thank her in ways that she is not expecting it. Run baths for her with Calgon, rub her feet when the two of you have a minute and do the dishes. That would help me out a million times and some.
  • Beat her to it.
  • Best thing you can do is tell her you feel guilty and ask how she would like you to help - that way she can elect for some time to herself at the weekend while you take the baby or I suspect what she might want more is for maybe a couple of hours together as a family or possibly a meal out with just the two of you so that she can be herself for a little while. Don't be too hard on yourself - you have years ahead of you to bring up your baby together there is plenty of time to "do your bit"
  • Show her how much your appreciate her, and everything she does for you and your family, by : * Giving her a massage * Writing her a love letter * Giving her some flowers * Tell her you appreciate her and love her very much * Hug her for no reason * Offer to help around the house when your free (like on weekends - with cleaning, meals, etc) Its often the little things that make all the difference. If I were in your wifes position, I would realy appreciate it if you did any or all of the above mentioned things.
  • some of the girls on here talk right out of romance novels .. although us girls would love for you to spend all your time spoiling us, i think she would understand because you are working. but you should help out when you have time and tell her that you appreciate all the work shes putting into keeping the house and watching the baby.
  • Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? I have an idea! Get up and do it yourself! Genius! I am sooo smart!!
  • Couple of things: 1) As soon as you get home and changed, take the baby and give your wife a couple of hours break. She can nap, take a bath, or anything else she needs to do to relax. Maybe YOU could put the baby to bed (unless she's breastfeeding.) 2) At least on Fridays and Saturdays, YOU get up at night to feed him. If you can, do it at least once or twice through the week. OR, maybe "take turns" doing it. You might also cook some meals, wash the dishes, maybe some clothes, and clean the bathrooms. Talk it over with your wife. Ask HER which or ALL that she would like you to do. (It sounds like a lot, but it's not when you consider all SHE'S been doing at home.)
  • remember that feeling when you come home after a "tough day" and give HER a chance to chill and relax.
  • When she gets up tell her that you will get it. You should spend more time with your 1 week old boy. When he grows up he will be a mommys boy. He will probably not like you. Try to get some time off of work and help your wife out. You are suppose to be the man of the house. Thats your job to take care of your baby. Congrads on the baby boy
  • do youre job so shee can do hers e wouldent like it if you couldent do youre job and she had to go to work too''
  • Get up at night and take care of the baby yourself occasionally. In fact, I did this a LOT the first several weeks, regardless of my work, because caring for a baby so much right after childbirth is not only exhausting, but downright debilitating. Remember, while you're hard at work all day, she's also hard at work all day at home. And her work will continue throughout the night. Take care of the baby as often as you can, at least until he/she starts sleeping through the nights. Your wife will appreciate it and so will you.
  • I think it's wonderful that you are aware of your wife making some sacrifices and one of the best things you can do is avoid making too many demands on her. Lactating women need a good diet and plenty of liquids so you could ask her if she'd like you to get her a drink and/or little snack (if not in the middle of the night) maybe on the weekends. I know it's not a good idea to make too much of a habit of it but you could also bring home a take-away meal maybe once a week so she gets a rest from cooking. TV dinners that can be zapped in the microwave are also helpful at times.
  • Nature is set up the way it is. It is wonderful that you want to do your part, and I am sure you are. But we can't change the nature of our bodies. If you really feel guilty , get your wife a breast pump and switch off with her for late night shifts.
  • I agree with the majority. Get your sleep during the week and when you are off and on weekends put a little bit more in than what you do now to show her you appreciate it. I don't think you should be getting up if you have to go to work and she doesn't. If there is ever a time she is having a rough time with him and needs a break then offer it to her. I don't have any kids yet but to drag ass to work once in a while is not going to be a big deal. My dog wakes me up at least 4 times a night whimpering and whining so I drag ass at least 2 days a week. Not that a dog is the same as a baby but you get my drift.
  • ABUSE DA B*TCH!
  • Help her out occasionally and give her a break by staying up with the baby once in a while.
  • your doing a great job cuz if you feel guilty is because you are a caring father lol congrats their arent many of those around anymore. your kid will appreciate this when he gets older and your nights with your wife will be memorable lol do you relate with this lol.
  • Awww. You're so sweet!! ^^ Well, I'm sure she wants you to get rest because you probably work late and get up early. So maybe during the w/e you should give her a rest and take care of the baby the whole two days. It might be exhausting so be prepared! XD
  • Don't feel guilty!! It's the same situation with my family (our baby is 10 months now). Get up the nights that you don't work the next day. Encourage her to nap when the baby naps. The sleeping situation eventually gets better...then worse...then better... and just when you think you've got it...worse! It's worth though! Good luck and congrats!!
  • Don't feel guilty! It's the same situation for my family (my baby is 10 mo. now though). Take over on nights when you don't work the next morning. Help her out when you get home from work. Encourage her to nap when the baby naps. The sleep situation does get better eventually...and then worse...and then better.. and just when you think you've got it... well, you get the picture, but they're worth it! Good luck! And congrats!
  • She's blessed to have you!! (would you talk to my husband??) lol Just give her some time on the weekend or your off day so she can rest up or get away for a minute, once she's completely healed from the baby you would'nt have to do as much of those other things you do to help because she will be better adjusted to having little man around while taking care of the house.
  • You could try getting up in the night at weekends so your wife could sleep then
  • I think that you should take care of you new baby wen you come home and maybe at weekends, if you dont have to get up for work you could give her a night off, just let her no that she is not alone with this new born and make her a tea and dinner when you come home from work good luck and congrats
  • I think you should get up too. Working at a job is no different than working to keep home. Actually there is an exception - as a homemaker one NEVER gets to clock out or escape their job! You are both working during the day - and to have only one person getting up at night sounds unfair to me. However, there are differences among every couple. Perhaps your baby is a great napper and she can nap during the day so she doesn't mind. Or perhaps you work 15 hours a day and the baby goes to bed early. Have a chat with her and see how she feels - she may be ok with the situation, or she may be quietly harboring some resentment and exhaustion. Remember to always give you wife the chance to get away from home - even if only to the grocery store by herself, or out with a friend, or whatever. Coming home from work is great - but when home is your work, there comes a need to escape.
  • Babies sleep for hours during the day in the first couple of months, and jump in to bed is exactly what I'd do when my kids were little. Tell your wife how much you appreciate her, how beautiful she is- that's a big deal to a new mom! Also, what I wanted to do as a new mom was "go out by myself"!! Buy her a gift certificate for a pedicure or a massage and offer to watch the baby while she goes. . .have lunch ready for her when she gets back!
  • LET HER SLEEP IN ON THE WEEKEND ONE DAY. MY HUSBAND DID THAT FOR ME AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED THE DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE.SHE CAN RELAX AND SLEEP WITHOUT LISTENING FOR THE BABY.REMEMBER IF ITS YOUR KID ITS NOT BABYSITTING, ITS PARENTING. HANG IN THERE. IT GETS BETTER.
  • Accept that for your wife to be able to stay at home and take care of your baby (which I assume both of you want her to do), you have to be able to go out and work, and in order to do that you need to sleep. She can always have a mid-day nap the next day with the baby, but that's not an option available to you as you'll be at work. So long as you are doing your share of the housework and childcare, you have nothing to be guilty of.
  • I know everyone is not like me, and many would disagree, but here it is: From the time I was five months along expecting my son, I never slept more than three or four hours until he was seven and his little sister was three. It was exhausting, and a little help would have been good. Having said that, however, I really didn't mind that I was the one who did all feeding and changing. I was the one who knew more about babies, and I was absolutely fine with being the one to take care of them. The thing with taking care of a new baby is it's a 24-hour job, but a person doesn't have to be at a company when, say, the meeting starts. It's almost an apples/oranges type of thing, and I think parents just have to do what works for them. Things can't always be perfect 50/50, and newborns only get up in the night for about a month or so.
  • Surprise her ! Bring dinner home one night and when she puts the baby down give her a back rub and draw her a nice bath with candles nad soft music playing . Show her that you care!!!
  • well, if youre working to support your family, then youre already doing what you need to do. i would talk it over with your wife & see if she feels strained and maybe you could work something out. communication is a neccesity in a healthy relationship
  • yuh shouldn feel guilty bout the whole thing but this is yur baby too and even if she tells yuh that no its ok yuh dont need to help she at least needs one day off a week so i say that when the baby goes to sleep spoiler her to the fullest
  • dont feel guilty. you need to sleep in order for her to stay at home and not work. you both need that income. If she dont work she can sleep during that day when the baby sleeps. A newborn sleeps like 70& of the time. But its nice of you to feel for her.
  • When the baby cries in the middle of the night, get up, change his diaper, hand him to your wife and go back to sleep.
  • Well, I mean sure you are going to feel guily but think about it. Atleast you are not just sitting around doing nothing for your family. You are working to support them. I had a boyfriend who was LAZY to the max. We were both working but I was also going to school. He would not help watch my daughter while I was doing homework and he would not help with her at night. But yeah i kicked him to the curb. Because though he was working, He just wanted me to do everything while he would get mad and tell me to do things for him instead of help my daughter or do my homework. Now with my fiance, He helps me with everything. We're both working. He helps with diapers, baths, feeding, changing,and playing. So as long as you do help your wife at times then there is nothing wrong. I know she understands your tired so she knows that you need the rest. Even with my husband, I dont let him wake up when he gets home from work which is 4am.
  • Every couple handles this situation differently. Just keep in mind that however you handle it will impact your marriage for years to come. If you can't get up during the night because you have to work, here are some things that you can do to help her out. Make dinner when you get home. Help out with some cleaning when you can. Help out with the laundry, it's probably multiplied now. Change some diapers on the weekend when you're home without being asked. If she's nursing, bring her something to drink when you can. Find ways to take up the slack in other areas so she can rest when the baby sleeps. Make sure she knows that her job is important and her rest is important. Be understanding when other things don't get done.
  • don't feel guilty, i did the same with all my kids when they were newborn, so that my husband would be rested for work.... he would take over a couple hours after he got home so that i could go to bed early...
  • I wouldn't feel guilty. I am a mother of 3. If I didn't have to work and my husband had a full-time job to help support us, I would do all the child care. I don't expect my husband to work full time and have to stay up at night and take care of the baby too. I would just help out with some of the chores and upkeep around the house...ex. laundry, dishes, and cleaning. That helps out more than you would ever know. I hope this helps
  • Share the load don't let her do everything even the night time feeds.
  • as dr. laura said , a working man should not have to tend his children on workdays..thats her job...he should come home, spend a little time with them, eat...and rest..now the weekends , yes, I know he has other things, mow, car repair, honey do's, but he should help too...sit with them...bath them....help with house..whatever... but a child should never be out anywhere until 6 months old....at least....
  • well what are you going to do? Feed him your boob? thats kind of how it is designed. dont feel bad.
  • give her Saturdays off...help out as much as you can on the weekend..stay at home mom is a 24 hour job, so any help is appreciated..
  • Take 1 day off work...preferably a friday or Monday Dont tell her, surprise her with breakfast in bed, then take the baby out for the day (visit one of the grandparents if possible...LOL) and let her enjoy a quiet day at home The surprise of staying home from work will be the best of all. Let us know what you chose to do Enjoy your baby they grow so fast
  • send her to work and you stay up with the baby. unless you are sluffing off your responsibility you have nothing to geel guilty about. just because you have different roles does not mean you are not equal. besides, trust me as someone who has done both roles, the stay at home role, while still hard work, is much more enjoyable.
  • Do the laundry, do the dishes, cook, clean, take her out for dinner. Millions of answers.
  • Offer to do something around the house, maybe get up in the night and try to take care of the baby, let her get some rest!!
  • No need to feel guilty as you are supporting the two fo them. You need your rest to bring in the bacon as they say. She understands this and since she is hom she should get up with the baby as she can adjust her schedule to the babies and catch naps when the baby does.
  • Remember that she is probably on baby time right now, while you're on adult time. While you get up in the morning, work all day, and return in the evening, she can take advantage of when the baby naps to nap herself. You don't have an opportunity to nap during the day, so sleeping a full night is important for your wellbeing. Like the baby, though, your wife may get up in the middle of the night, but if she's wise, she's also sleeping in the middle of the day, or whenever it is the baby sleeps. That way, you're both getting the sleep you need, although you aren't on the same schedules. Once the baby gets older, you will start to match up again. You should also take responsibilities of the household when you have the time. Homemaking is a job that goes on into evenings and weekends, so while you do have a job outside the home, which your wife does not, it is important that you take some responsibilities of homemaking, because otherwise your wife is working harder than you are, which isn't fair. Of course, as she doesn't work outside the home, she should do more of the housework and baby-watching than you, but you do have a share of it.
  • You shouldn't feel guilty. If she was working, then I would understand why you feel guilty. Do little things to help her when you come home if possible and you can always get up with the baby on Friday and Saturday if you don't have to get up for work the next day. Whatever will make you feel better about it, but just the fact that you asked that question tells me you're a wonderful husband who will do what he can, when he can.
  • well, first that is sweet of you...you seem so concerned....my sister is the main care giver to her childern while her husband is at work.....when the baby naps she nap herself too....your wife should also be taking advantage of the nap time......no reason to feel guilty.
  • Give him a bath every night, and do the diaper duty at night. I did that, my wife appreciated it, and the baby loves her dad. I didn't lose much sleep and it gave mom a break.
  • Give her a break on the days that you have off, but I feel that you are doing your part... because she is by letting you sleep, she is looking out for her breadwinner!!
  • If you have a day off, whenever she's free, do things for her. Don't stress out though. Some assistance around the house. If you don't have days off then at nights, or whenever you come home, help her in any way you can.
  • My husband and I went through this. I would get up and feed our son (sometimes i pumped sometimes i breast fed) and then i would go and give him the baby to change and put back to sleep. You could also get up for the first feeding of the night if your wife doesnt bf, or get up a little earlier for the feeding closet to when you wake up. This gives her a little longer spurt of sleep if you know what i mean. It gets easier, especially once they start sleeping all night. I also agree with the take the baby for a little while on the weekend. My husband did this so i could cleaning done and relax and whatever.
  • Take turns with her, unless she doesnt use a bottle...

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