You will be a dad! You will be faced with new and important questions that you may have never considered before. What kind of father will you be? How do I change a diaper? Is it safe to eat sushi while pregnant?
Luckily, there are plenty of books out there to help guide expecting dads through the process. Here are some of the best books for expecting dads.
You should read this!
The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be, by Armin A. Brott
This best-selling book is a comprehensive guide for fathers-to-be. It covers everything from preparing for the baby's birth to taking care of your new child. This book is a must-read for any expectant dad. It was published in 1993 and is now in its fourth edition. The most recent edition has a rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon, from over 1,400 reviews.
The author is a journalist and father of three. He decided to write this manual when he had trouble finding good information on the web. He wanted to create a book that had all of the information he wished he had known when his children were born. This is a very thorough book for dads-to-be.
What To Expect When You're Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
This popular book is a must-read for expecting parents. It offers advice on everything from choosing a pediatrician to dealing with labor and delivery. It also explains how to prepare for the baby and what to expect after delivery.
This book has been adapted into a film with the same name, released in 2012. It stars Cameron Diaz as an expecting mom who goes through all of the trials and tribulations of pregnancy. The movie was not well-received by critics, but it made over $160 million at the box office worldwide.
The author, Heidi Murkoff is a writer and editor who has authored or co-authored several works on pregnancy and childbirth. Sharon Mazel is a health care professional with over 20 years of experience in women's health care.
Dad's First Year: From Diapers to Date Nights - 365 Tips for Surviving (and Enjoying) Your Baby's First Year, by Michael Lewis
This book is packed with useful information all new fathers should know. It covers everything from learning how to change a diaper to the importance of playtime. It also includes a calendar with helpful information for new parents. This book contains both humorous and important information, making it an enjoyable read as well as a useful tool.
The author is a professional financial adviser who has written articles about fatherhood for various publications including The New York Times. He has three children of his own.
What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond, by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash
This book is divided into two sections: the first part is written from the perspective of the expectant mother; the second section is written from her partner's point of view. It helps to understand what each other is going through during pregnancy.
The author, Charles Lockwood, is a Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale School of Medicine. He has written extensively on pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health issues. Jennifer Ash is an editor who has worked on several books about pregnancy and childbirth.
The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance, by Louis Borgenicht
This humorous book offers advice for dads-to-be who are looking for ways to prepare for their baby's arrival. It includes helpful information about medical conditions that may arise during pregnancy, how to deal with common newborn problems, tips on feeding your baby, and more.
Dr. Louis Borgenicht is an emergency room physician with over 20 years of experience in his field. Originally written as a joke gift for expecting fathers, this book has since become one of the best-selling books for new dads on Amazon.
Dude, you are gonna be a dad! by John Pfiffer
This book is a light-hearted look at the ups and downs of fatherhood. It includes chapters such as "Pregnancy Sucks" and "What to Expect When You're Not Expecting". The author, John Pfiffer, is a stand-up comedian who has been performing for over 20 years. He has two children of his own.
The author described the book as "essentially a collection of snippets of conversations I had with my friends who are dads, overheard throughout my life." In this book, he offers advice to new dads, which is based on his own experiences and those of his friends.
Comedy-like language of writing helped the author connect with expecting fathers
Should you read serious literature?
Maybe you have a thought that non-scientific, non-serious books on pregnancy and childbirth might be more palatable, or even helpful to dads. The answer is maybe. It depends on who you are, and the dad's personality.
If your partner is the type of person who enjoys reading lighthearted, comedic takes on parenting, then a book like Dude, You're Gonna Be a Dad! by John Pfiffer would likely be more enjoyable (and potentially helpful) than a more serious book like What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash.
On the other hand, if you are looking for serious medical information about pregnancy and childbirth that is written for men, then reading What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash might be more helpful.
The same is true if you are looking for information on how your partner can cope during pregnancy—reading Dude, You're Gonna Be a Dad! by John Pfiffer would not provide nearly the breadth of useful information that What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash does.
It's important to remember that both types of books can be helpful in their own way; neither type of book should be dismissed as not worth reading.
Should you read psychology works?
Similarly, if you and your partner are interested in psychology and want to learn more about the emotional side of pregnancy, then a book like Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong—and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster might be a good choice. This book takes a scientific look at the research on pregnancy and childbirth and offers suggestions for how expecting parents can make informed decisions about their health during pregnancy.
Again, it's important to remember that not all books on this topic need to be read cover-to-cover. If you are only interested in learning about one specific topic (e.g., breastfeeding), then reading a book that focuses specifically on that topic is likely to be more beneficial than reading a more general book on pregnancy and childbirth.
Should you go to special courses?
If you think that reading books is not enough, you can attend a class, workshop, or another program for expecting dads. The classes are usually targeted to expectant parents as a couple or as a family unit. In some cases, they can also be geared towards same-sex couples who are planning on having children via surrogacy or adoption.
These programs which cover pregnancy and childbirth from a father's perspective might offer contextual information that books do not have.
Classes and workshops often provide extra support through special exercises, personalized consultations with instructors, and more opportunities for discussion with your partner about the experience of pregnancy and early parenthood.
If you do attend such an event, remember that it is important to work together as parents so that both of you develop into competent caregivers. This means that you should not only attend these types of programs but also discuss the information learned there with each other once you are home. This will help to ensure that you are on the same page as far as your expectations for parenting are concerned.
What can you do for your wife during pregnancy?
The book What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash provides information on what expectant fathers can do during their partner's pregnancy in terms of being supportive but not overbearing.
Though the title of this book suggests that it is written for men who are considering fatherhood with their wives, it also offers examples that same-sex couples can use when they are expecting children via surrogacy or adoption.
If you are an expectant father who is looking for information on how you can support your partner while she is pregnant (and afterward), then consider reading What to Expect When Wife Is Expanding: How to Be a Loving Partner Through Pregnancy and Beyond by Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., and Jennifer Ash.
How to prepare yourself without books?
If you are afraid of being a parent, or if you are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of being a dad, there are other ways to get ready for welcoming a new baby into your life. You may find that talking with friends or family members who have children can be helpful. Listening to podcasts or watching videos on parenting can also give you some insight into what to expect.
It is important to remember that every child is different, and there is no one right way to raise a child. What works for one family might not work for another. The most important thing is that you and your partner are on the same page as far as your parenting style is concerned. This will help to ensure that your child feels loved and supported by both parents no matter what.
Bottom line
Books for expecting dads can help provide information and support during the challenging process of becoming a father. The type of book that is most helpful for any particular dad depends on his interests and personality. Some dads might prefer to read humorous takes on fatherhood, while others might prefer more serious medical information.
It's important to remember that both types of books can be helpful in their own way. So, if you're looking for advice on fatherhood, don't feel like you have to stick to one type of book—try reading a variety of titles to see which ones resonate most with you.