I prefer to raise a child from an early age on. Not necessarily at infancy but must be a teenager or so. Can't be a 20-or-30-year-old child.
True that this doesn't have to be in a marriage.
But I don't want to be a single parent. I want a child to grow up with both parents. So, a partner or marriage is best. I'm straight, so it would have to be a female partner I'll have.
If the goal is just to "be a daddy", there are several options out there and some doesn't even required marriage or even having a partner. However, money will be required with some options. From what I've seen that's universally true is, time, dedication, and resources will be needed if you want to be a good dad.
And for those that doesn't want to deal with newborn, they can do what Suni Lee's dad did, meet up with a woman that already has kids even at the toddler stage, a kid can still considered the man that help raised him/her dad.