Just Days After Having His First Kid, This New Dad Has 10 Major Takeaways All Parents Must Read

Gone are the days of forks and knives. "Make sure to stock up on food that's easily eatable with one hand. Or invest in really good side tables around the chairs you'll be in regularly so that you can keep your hydration and snacks at an arm's reach without effort. Eating with two hands is a distant memory."

This is your first time taking care of a human life. It's supposed to be scary. "Be prepared to be terrified at all hours of the day or night that your little one isn't breathing," wrote Joey. "Even though you're probably sleep-deprived, you'll continuously wake up to check or not sleep at all. I think it's gotten easier as we've learned how resilient he is, but all of the SIDS fear fodder out there can get to you."

Latching is such a struggle for so many parents — it's clumsy, hard, and even painful! "The time between coming home and mom's milk coming in was the most trying time for us," Joey said. "Don't be afraid to ask for help or call a lactation consultant. Peace of mind that you're doing the best you can is worth the money. Everyone goes through this and even though everyone will warn you, you'll feel helpless in the moment. Trust me, you'll get through it."

Getting the baby to latch on during feedings is no easy feat. "We took just about every preparation class there was to take before little one arrived. Everything you learned goes out the window," Joey wrote. "Strangely, no class taught us to listen to the small audible pop that the baby makes when swallowing on a good latch."