The Playbook

"Am I ready?" Dad readiness quiz

Nobody feels completely ready. This quiz shows where you are solid and where one focused evening would make the biggest difference, then gives you the next three steps.

0 of 12 answered. Be honest; nobody sees this but you.

  1. 1. If labor started at 2 a.m. tonight, how ready are you?
  2. 2. Do you know when your partner’s provider wants you to call or head in?
  3. 3. How well do you know what the first year will cost?
  4. 4. Life insurance, a will, and naming a guardian?
  5. 5. Could you change a diaper, swaddle, and give a bottle without looking it up?
  6. 6. Where should a newborn sleep?
  7. 7. How often do you ask your partner what would actually help right now?
  8. 8. Could you name three signs of postpartum depression?
  9. 9. How are you doing, honestly?
  10. 10. Who do you talk to about becoming a dad?
  11. 11. Do you know how much leave you can take, and what it pays?
  12. 12. Have you planned who covers your work while you are out?

Answer all 12 questions to see your result.

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed .

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Why take a readiness quiz?

Because “Am I ready?” is the wrong question, and “What would make me more ready this week?” is the right one. Most expecting dads feel unprepared, and most of that feeling comes from a small number of open loops: no idea what the first year will cost, no plan for leave, never having changed a diaper, not knowing what labor actually looks like.

The quiz turns that vague worry into a short list. It covers six areas, two questions each:

  • Home and hospital logistics: bags, the car seat, and knowing when to go in.
  • Money and paperwork: a first-year budget, life insurance, a will and a guardian.
  • Baby care skills: diapers, swaddling, bottles, and safe sleep.
  • Supporting your partner: day-to-day help and knowing the signs of postpartum depression.
  • Your own health and headspace: how you are doing and who you talk to.
  • Work and leave: what you can take and who covers your job.

How to use your result

Your answers are saved in the page link, so you can retake the quiz in a month and compare, or send it to your partner and ask how they would have answered for you. That second option is braver and more useful.

Then do the first next step. Not all three; one. Put it on your calendar this week.

About the “how are you doing” question

It’s in there for a reason. Research published in JAMA found that about 1 in 10 fathers showed signs of depression during pregnancy or the first year after birth, and rates were higher when the mother was also depressed. Dads tend to show it differently: irritability, withdrawal, working late, drinking more. If that sounds familiar, read paternal postnatal depression, talk to your doctor, or call or text 988 any time.

Frequently asked questions

How is the readiness score calculated?

Each answer is worth 0 to 3 points, and the 12 questions cover six areas: hospital logistics, money and paperwork, baby care skills, supporting your partner, your own health and headspace, and work and leave. Your score is the percentage of possible points, and the three lowest areas become your next steps.

Is this a mental health screening?

No. One question asks how you are doing, and if your answer suggests you are struggling, we point you to support. If you have been feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed for more than a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor. Depression and anxiety in new and expecting dads are common and treatable.

My score is low. Should I worry?

No. A low score early in pregnancy just means you have things to do, which is what the next steps are for. Most of the gaps on this quiz close in an evening or two.

Sources

  1. Prenatal and Postpartum Depression in Fathers and Its Association With Maternal Depression, JAMA
  2. Postpartum Depression, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  3. A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.