Dads, you’re about to become parents! Grab a tall boy, take a breath of fresh air, and get a good night’s sleep. Things are about to change in a big way. Luckily for you, I have prepared seven unspoken things you should be prepared to do after the baby is born.

Now, time to sharpen your pencils and take notes!

1. Act like you know what you’re doing, even if you have no idea.

There are always more baby books to read, videos to watch, and perfect advice to listen to from other “experienced” parents. At times it feels like you can’t prepare fast enough. So what’s the secret?

The secret is, you don’t have to know everything to be a great dad. Just act like you know what you’re doing and fake it ’til you make it. Your kids will love you no matter what. And if they don’t, well, at least you tried.

2. Be prepared to be grossed out by things you never thought you would be.

From the moment your child is born, you’ll be faced with new and fascinating ways to be grossed out on a daily basis. From changing diapers to dealing with sick kids, it’s all part of the job.

But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. After a while, you’ll even start to find the grossest things brag worthy to your mates.

3. Get up in the middle of the night to feed, burp, or rock the baby.

The best advice for becoming a dad and getting up in the middle of the night to feed, burp, or rock the baby is to just go with the flow. Don’t try to fight it, because you’ll just end up exhausted and frustrated. Accept that this is a part of fatherhood, and try to find the humor in it. After all, you’re not the only one who’s been up all night with a crying baby!

4. Be patient when your child is crying and you have no idea why.

When your child is crying and you have no idea why, the best piece of advice is to be patient. It can be difficult to be patient when you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong, but trust me, it’s worth it. Just take a deep breath and try to relax. It’ll all be over before you know it.

If all else fails shed a few tears yourself, that will confuse your child long enough for you to get a quick break.

5. Put a brave face on when you’re sleep-deprived and feeling like a zombie.

Be prepared to feel like a zombie. Seriously, those first few weeks (or months) after your baby is born are going to be tough. You’re going to be sleep-deprived and feeling like you’re running on fumes. But don’t worry, it’s totally normal. Just try to put on a brave face and power through. I promise, it’ll all be worth it in the end.

6. Be the calm one when everyone is freaking out about the baby’s first fever.

There are going to be a lot of firsts for your baby. It’s best if one of the parents has a cool head when everyone else is freaking out. Don’t worry, fevers are normal when they get sick. Baby Tylenol is your best friend and will help you get through it.

The best advice is monitor it, and help your spouse take breaks soothing the baby and if worse comes to worse you can always get extra help from a doctor.

7. Smile and act like you’re happy to be a dad, even if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed.

Sometimes being a dad can be tough. But don’t worry it gets easier with more experience. Find a good support group of other dads and make sure you are taking care of yourself. Before you know it, your baby won’t be a baby anymore.