Dad and Family: skills checklist

Dad and Family: 10 skills, each with steps, a quiz and a printable checklist, covering diapers, car seats, safe sleep, bottles, crying, childproofing, postpartum support and more.

This category is for dads, stepdads, uncles, grandfathers and anyone helping to raise a kid. The first weeks with a baby come with a steep learning curve and very little sleep, and the practical skills are the ones that build confidence fastest: changing a diaper, preparing a bottle exactly as the label says, settling a crying baby and knowing what to do when you reach your limit.

It also covers the safety basics where getting it right matters most: installing a car seat and having it checked for free by a certified technician, safe sleep following the national pediatric guidance, and childproofing a home as a baby starts to move. For partners, there is a page on supporting someone after birth, including the warning signs of postpartum depression and the national maternal mental health hotline. Later skills include teaching a kid to ride a bike, talking about hard topics, and whether you need life insurance.

Infant health pages are awareness only. They do not give feeding amounts, medication doses or sleep schedules. For anything about your own baby, call your pediatrician's office or its after-hours line, which is there for exactly these questions.