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The Dad Year

Surviving — and loving — your baby's first 12 months.

Gear & Tips

Flying With a Baby for the First Time: What to Pack, What to Dread, What to Embrace

By James Calloway
Gear & Tips

Baby Bouncers: The Gear That Buys You 20 Minutes of Sanity

By James Calloway
Dad Life

The Quiet Way Fatherhood Gives Your Life a Different Kind of Weight

By James Calloway
Gear & Tips

The Best Baby Thermometers — Because Guessing a Fever Is Not an Option

By James Calloway
Dad Life

Nobody Talks About How Lonely New Fatherhood Can Feel

By James Calloway
Dad Life

How to Actually Use Your Paternity Leave (Not Just Survive It)

By James Calloway on Thursday, November 27, 2025
paternity leave tips for dads

New dad? Get the most out of your paternity leave with our guide. Learn valuable paternity leave tips for dads to navigate fatherhood with confidence.

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The First Year

The Vaccine Schedule Explained — Simply and Without the Drama

By James Calloway on Monday, November 24, 2025
baby vaccinations schedule first year

I’m James, a dad who learned fast that keeping a young child healthy is a practical job, not a science experiment. When Claire turned 2 years old I felt like I was assembling furniture without instructions. The visits, the forms, and the list of every dose can make you tense. I remember sitting in the …

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The First Year

Month 12: One Year. You Both Made It.

By James Calloway on Sunday, November 23, 2025
baby first birthday

My name is James and I still remember the exact moment my daughter Claire turned one. I stare at a favorite photo and I can feel how much we grew as new parents in that year. Looking back at those tiny details makes all the late nights and small worries worth it. It felt strange …

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The First Year

Month 11: First Words Are Coming — Here’s How to Help

By James Calloway on Friday, November 21, 2025
11 month old baby first words

I’m James, a first-time dad to my daughter Claire, and I remember waiting for that first sound like it was a major event. Most infants say their first words between 10 and 14 months, so that anxious wait is totally normal. It can feel like decoding a mystery when your little one moves from babbling …

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The First Year

Month 10: Your Baby Understands More Than You Think

By James Calloway on Tuesday, November 18, 2025
10 month old baby learning

My name is James, and as a first-time dad I remember the 10 month mark clearly. Claire, my daughter, tried to climb the bookshelf while I sipped coffee. That moment showed me how much a baby notices around them. Their development is fast now. At this age babies test cause and effect. Claire dropped her …

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The First Year

Month 9: Standing, Falling, and Trying Again

By James Calloway on Sunday, September 21, 2025
9 month old baby milestones

My name is James, and I write this as a first‑time dad to my daughter Claire, who is now two. I remember when she was nine months and our living room felt like an obstacle course of standing and falling. At that age, every day brought new things to learn and new risks to manage. …

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The First Year

Month 8: Separation Anxiety Is Real — for Both of You

By James Calloway on Monday, September 15, 2025

I remember the day Claire turned vocal and suspicious of doorways. My name is James and I am a first-time dad who survived the initial wave of this phase when my daughter was tiny. She would scream every single time I left the room for a short time. That raw sound made me feel guilty, …

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The First Year

Month 7: Crawling Is Coming. Baby-Proof Everything Now.

By James Calloway on Tuesday, August 5, 2025
7 month old baby development

I remember the chaos. I am James, and when my daughter Claire hit this stage our living room became a high-speed obstacle course overnight. In this short guide I give you the reality of what to expect. You will see rapid changes in your child’s skills, sleep, and interaction with toys and objects. Practical tips …

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The First Year

Month 6: Your Baby’s First Food — and What Dads Can Do

By James Calloway on Sunday, August 3, 2025
starting solids 6 months

I remember the day Claire turned half a year old and our kitchen felt like a chaotic lab. My name is James and she stared at my sandwich with such intensity that I knew we had crossed a line. That look said more than any checklist could. Watching a baby try real food is equal …

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The First Year

Month 5: How to Actually Play With Your Baby

By James Calloway on Saturday, July 12, 2025
5 month old baby activities

I’m James, a dad who watched Claire go from a sleepy lump to a curious little one in what felt like a blink. This month felt like the first time she truly noticed me. I spent nights reading about development and tips on this page, trying to get it right without turning play into a …

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Recent Posts

  • Flying With a Baby for the First Time: What to Pack, What to Dread, What to Embrace
  • Baby Bouncers: The Gear That Buys You 20 Minutes of Sanity
  • The Quiet Way Fatherhood Gives Your Life a Different Kind of Weight
  • The Best Baby Thermometers — Because Guessing a Fever Is Not an Option
  • Nobody Talks About How Lonely New Fatherhood Can Feel

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About Us

The Dad Year is a guide to your baby's first 12 months — written from a dad's perspective, for dads. Not a medical journal. Not a parenting manual full of terms like "secure attachment framework." Just honest, practical, sometimes funny writing about what it's actually like to become a father for the first time.

Recent Posts

  • Flying With a Baby for the First Time: What to Pack, What to Dread, What to Embrace
  • Baby Bouncers: The Gear That Buys You 20 Minutes of Sanity
  • The Quiet Way Fatherhood Gives Your Life a Different Kind of Weight
  • The Best Baby Thermometers — Because Guessing a Fever Is Not an Option
  • Nobody Talks About How Lonely New Fatherhood Can Feel

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