20 Tell-Tale Signs Your Husband Is Going to Be the World's Greatest Dad

There are a lot of qualities a person looks for in the perfect husband, and for those of us who want to have children at some point, that entails being fairly certain they'll be a good dad when the time comes. Although there's no certain way of telling how any one of us will be as a parent, there are a few tell-tale traits and tendencies that translate to the skills one needs to be a parent — specifically, a great one.

If your partner has some of the following 20 qualities, he'll be the World's Greatest Dad straight from the moment that second line shows up on the pregnancy test. (And if you're curious about how a woman in your life, maybe yourself, will be as a mom, check out these signs a person will be a great mama.)

01
He’s responsible.
Stocksnap | Brodie Vissers

He’s responsible.

Responsibility is one of the biggest aspects of parenting, so if he's able to keep a schedule straight, can keep track of his belongings at all times, and knows how to help take care of the house when toys explode all over your life, he should be all set.

02
He’s patient.
Unsplash | William Stitt

He’s patient.

A patient man will be the dad who lets his child do things at their own pace, giving them the room to explore and learn in their own way. He'll keep at the things he's not great at, he won't get upset when you take out your exhaustion on him, and while you're pregnant, he'll indulge you when you have an impossible food craving at 3 a.m.

03
He’s observant.
Stocksnap | Pablo Heimplatz

He’s observant.

Of the world, of you, of the little things. If he notices all of the things both big and small, he'll have the awareness to know when you need help: if your child needs something, if there's a household chore that needs to get done, and so much more.

04
He’s understanding.
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He’s understanding.

You can trust your understanding partner with all of your feelings and emotions and know that he'll be understanding no matter what. Being empathetic is huge when it comes to raising kids — it'll mean he can put himself in his child's shoes and try his best to understand where they're coming from no matter their age or the situation.

05
He loves dad jokes.
Unsplash | Priscilla Du Preez

He loves dad jokes.

This one doesn't need an explanation, nor is it a must-have quality, but any guy who loves dad jokes before becoming a dad is moving in the right (dare we say, inevitable?) direction.

06
He has his sh*t together.
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He has his sh*t together.

He knows what he's doing with his life and mostly, if not all the way, has his ducks in a row. A guy who can handle those typical life challenges is ready to be faced with the struggles of parenting and will be able to keep his sh*t together in this new stage of life as well.

07
He has a strong stomach.
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He has a strong stomach.

Parents have to deal with a lot of gross sh*t. If your husband has held your hair back a time or two during a bout of the flu (or after a particularly boozy night), doesn't faint at the sight of blood, and can stand strong smells, he should be good to go.

08
He loves to have fun.
Unsplash | Priscilla Du Preez

He loves to have fun.

There aren't too many people out there who don't love to have a good time, but a partner who especially loves having fun and can see the fun in any situation is going to be the dad who can entertain his kids no matter where they are, and who will create fun activities and adventures for his kids that they'll remember fondly.

09
He’s affectionate.
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He’s affectionate.

A man who isn't afraid to show his love will be the dad who snuggles his kids, hugs them often, and openly shares his loving feelings towards his them.

10
He’s goofy.
Unsplash | Matheus Ferrero

He’s goofy.

Dads are the goofiest guys on the planet (aside from grandpas, maybe). If your partner cracks you up on the regular, chances are he'll be trying to get constant laughs out of your kids, who will find him as humorous as you do.

11
He’s sensitive to your needs.
Unsplash | David Núñez

He’s sensitive to your needs.

He can tell when you need space, a break, or a hug without even having to ask, and when you have children, he'll be able to do the same for them (and for a new, sleep-deprived version of you).

12
He likes — or at least offers — to cook.
Stocksnap | NeONBRAND

He likes — or at least offers — to cook.

No matter how you split parenting duties between the two of you, having a husband who's competent in the kitchen (at least enough to make classic kid foods like grilled cheese and chicken nuggets) means that mealtimes won't always fall on you or your favorite takeout location in a pinch.

13
He handles stress well.
Unsplash | Shanique Wright

He handles stress well.

Even if you're stressed to your breaking point, he's cool and collected, always. He knows how to compartmentalize his stress without getting overwhelmed or upset, which will be huge when you're attempting to figure out how to care for a newborn, and later when you have a testy toddler running around the house.

14
He enjoys quality time with you at home.
Unsplash | Becca Tapert

He enjoys quality time with you at home.

If your guy can hang around the house without getting stir crazy, or better yet, prefers to do so, that's a sure sign he'll be ready to spend a ton of nights in once you become parents and don't have the energy to go out, let alone make it to the couch to watch TV before nodding off.

15
He’s protective when he needs to be.
Unsplash | Andre Adjahoe

He’s protective when he needs to be.

If he's protective enough to look out for his family's wellbeing and keep them out of trouble, but not so protective it's obsessive, he's going to do just fine as a dad. Parenting is a huge balance of knowing when to help and when to let go.

16
He’s handy.
Unsplash | Daiga Ellaby

He’s handy.

Whether he's fixing a doorknob, screwing in the handle of a pot, or putting up fencing in the backyard, chances are he'll have no issues when it comes to fixing broken toys, building IKEA baby furniture, and the entire house.

17
He talks about the tough stuff openly.
Unsplash | Derek Thomson

He talks about the tough stuff openly.

Not one to clam up, a good dad is the partner who you know can address the big topics without shying away or making things awkward. This quality will definitely help when it's time to talk about sex, sickness or death, and world issues.

18
He has a good relationship with his parents.
Flickr user Donnie Ray Jones

He has a good relationship with his parents.

Although not essential, as everyone comes from different types of family backgrounds, seeing a man engage in healthy relationships with his parents is just a bonus.

19
He loves you, and shows it.
Unsplash | Toa Heftiba

He loves you, and shows it.

One of the things your kids will remember when they're older is your relationship with your partner, which will likely play a part in how they view their own relationships. Seeing showings of love between their parents will set the tone for how they approach love in all its forms.

20
He genuinely wants to be a dad.
Unsplash | Gift Habeshaw

He genuinely wants to be a dad.

Simple as that. If he wants to be a dad, he'll do so to the best of his abilities.