First time dad here and I've been reading way too much online. I check on my baby like every 20 minutes to make sure she's breathing. My wife says I'm being paranoid but honestly the anxiety is real. Do other dads feel this way or am I losing it?
Every 20 minutes is rough. Once we got past the newborn stage I realized my kid was way more resilient than I gave them credit for. Try to get some sleep when the baby sleeps - you need rest more than you need those extra checks.
I was exactly like this with my first. The checking every 20 minutes almost drove me crazy. Here's what helped me - talk to your pediatrician about safe sleep practices and then trust that you've done what you need to do. The anxiety does get better, I promise.
Every 20 minutes is rough, man. I was the same way with my daughter. It does get easier once you hit the 6 month mark and realize they're tougher than you think. Hang in there.
The online rabbit hole is real. I spent way too much time reading scary stuff when my second was born. Talk to your pediatrician about what actually matters and then try to let the rest go.
That constant checking phase is brutal, but honestly it's normal. Just know you're not alone in this. Your wife's right that you need to step back a bit, but your care is coming from the right place.
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Man, I feel this in my soul. With our first I was reading everything too. The thing that actually helped was my wife gently telling me I was making myself miserable for no reason. Your baby is okay. You're doing fine.