First-Time DaddyBy Brendan Lambert

What should we plan for the first 48 hours at home?

For your first two days at home, keep your family's written care instructions and contact details easy to find. Record only the notes your care team asks for, write down the next appointments and plans, and agree who owns the next everyday job. Check in together and change the plan when you need to.

“First 48 hours” means the first two days at home, whenever you arrive. The worksheet does not assess symptoms or replace your care plan.

First page of the First-Time Daddy First 48 Hours Action Plan
A page you can fill in together or print.

Put the care plan where both of you can find it

Keep the written instructions for your partner and baby together with phone numbers for your care team and the best way to get help outside office hours. If something is unclear, ask the team to explain it. Note the next appointments and how you will get there. Keep the full care instructions with your worksheet rather than relying on a short summary.

Use notes as a memory aid

The notes page has room for a time, event, observation and initials. Use it for the details your care team asked you to record, such as a call or an everyday care event. It is not a schedule or a set of daily targets. Add a question for the care team when you need to clarify an instruction, and keep personal details private.

Make the next handoff small and clear

Pick one practical job at a time: a meal, laundry, supplies, messages or arranging help. Write down who owns it and when it should happen. Ask each other, “What is one thing I can take off your plate?” Then agree on when you will talk again. The plan can change as you learn what your family needs.

Common questions

A little more clarity.

Does the plan start immediately after birth?

No. This companion page is for the first 48 hours at home, whenever your family arrives there.

Can the worksheet tell us when to seek medical help?

No. Keep and follow the instructions from your family’s care team, including whom to contact and how to get help.

From the First-Time Daddy companion pages

Put the next step on paper.

Download the First 48 Hours Action Plan as a fillable PDF. The three checklists are free to use, with no email address required.

Download the checklist Explore the book