Babies don’t come with instruction manuals, but these brilliant baby books for new dads are the next best thing!
You’ve done it. Your partner is pregnant, so it’s time to put your feet up for nine months and look forward to the birth of your child, secure in the knowledge that the first weeks of its life will be an easy ride. Which is exactly what NO NEW DAD-TO-BE HAS EVER THOUGHT - EVER!
What to look for when buying a book for 'new dads'?
Seeing the little blue line on the pregnancy test for the first time is like hearing the starting gun for an epic minefield of questions, like:
- Will you be a good birthing partner?
- What is a birthing partner?
- Will you be a good dad?
- What do dads even do?
- WHY HAVE WE DONE THIS!?
If you’re a dad-to-be, take comfort in the fact that we all thought like this once. And frankly, 11 years since the birth of my first child, I’m still not 100% sure on the ‘what dads do’ question.
But the other stuff has fallen into place, and it will for you too. You’ll work it out. But there are ways to make the process much easier and quicker.
With that in mind, we’ve created our rundown of the very best books for dads-to-be and new dads. Some are entirely practical, others more philosophical. Some are funny, while some tell it straight. They will help you through pregnancy, the early months of your child’s life, and beyond. For a little bonus, don’t forget our own bumper list of bitesize new dad tips.
The best books for new dads
“While most pregnancy books are aimed at women, Pregnancy for Dads-to-Be is purely focused on everything men need to know about pregnancy, and how to support their partner.”
Practical, accessible and useful. Pregnancy for Dads-To-Be is about pregnancy and birth, and particularly what dads can do to support their partners through nine months of physical and hormonal eruption, while simultaneously preparing themselves for the biggest of 'Big Days.'
You’ll learn about:
- The month by month development of your baby (or babies!).
- What you need to do before the nine months of calm are up and the storm arrives.
- How to support your partner, both during pregnancy, during labour and post birth.
More unusually, Pregnancy for Dads-To-Be gives tips on adjusting your lifestyle in advance, so the shock of a new baby isn’t quite the shock it might otherwise have been.
Great for new dads who:
“It’s not a useless novelty book and it’s not a big, impractical, wordy book. Commando Dad provides clear and logical advice on all the practicalities of becoming a new father.”
Neil Sinclair was a real-life commando, so there’s a good chance he faced some pretty tricky situations during the course of an average working week. And yet his most daunting moment was bringing his first baby home from hospital! Now what was he meant to do!? He craved a basic training manual of the kind he had been issued on his first day in the Army, so that’s what he wrote. There’s certainly a no nonsense tone to much of the advice in Commando Dad, from:
- How to prepare ‘base camp.’
- To dealing with ‘minor combat injuries.’
- It’s certainly not just a gimmick.
It’s a simple, helpful manual of the kind you might get with a car. That sounds odd, but sometimes manual-like clarity is exactly what new dads need.
Great for new dads who:
“It takes the dad-to-be on a white-knuckle ride from conception to the first birthday that also considers the emotional truths and selfish imperatives that fathers are usually asked to bury out of sight.”
Fatherhood - The Truth was published in 2005, when there weren’t many books for new dads around. As one of the first, it packed quite a punch, and still does today. Fatherhood - The Truth doesn’t hide behind what it calls the ‘happy clappy cliches’, instead wading straight into:
- The ‘fiery hell’ of night feeds.
- The prepartion in case of projectile vomiting.
- Covering the crucial and dribble stained period between conception and that great back-slap of a parenting milestone - your child’s first birthday.
It’s funny, useful and tells dads-to-be how it is, not how they might want it to be.
Great for new dads who:
“With tips from those who know, what-to-do explanations and fascinating facts, this survival guide will ensure you're armed and ready for your role as a new father.”
The Expectant Dad’s Survival Guide covers pregnancy and the first few weeks of fatherhood in a way that will resonate with many of us. Crucially, the book doesn’t skirt over the small stuff.
- It tells you all you need to know about everything from buying baby kit to that terrifying moment when a midwife asks you if you’d like to cut the cord.
- There’s expert advice in here - from midwives, doctors and even psychologists - and first hand accounts too.
We've been fortunate enough to work with Rob at DaddiLife too on pieces such as dads on the school run and also larger guides around the divorce process.
Great for new dads who:
“Written in an original and witty style providing practical advice for the first three years of a child's life from newborn to toddlerdom - from crucial babycare to remaining sane in their role as dad.”
Babies and Toddlers for Men covers birth to three years in a funny and practical way. Woods draws on his own experience to give tips and advice on:
- Looking after your child, from newborn through terrible twos to toddler-hood.
- Ofcourse, this means supporting the mother as well as caring for the kid, a subject the book doesn’t shy away from.
A companion volume, Babies and Toddlers for Men - 101 Tips, breaks a lot of this down into handy bitesize chunks.
Great for new dads who:
“The Life of Dad throws out the old stereotypes of fatherhood in an entertaining and informative journey through the role of dad – helping you decide what sort of father you want to be.”
Now for something entirely different. The Life of Dad is based on a decade long study on new and expectant fathers, and aims to present the latest scientific research on fatherhood in a clear and lucid way. It’s a fascinating read for all new dads and dads-to-be, but:
- It’s no practical guide to nappy changing and nighttime feeds.
- Instead, it answers questions like ‘Will fatherhood change me?’ and ‘How can I help my child grow into a healthy, happy adult?’.
Most of all, it’s a book that shows just how important a contribution good dads make. For that reason, it’s a great book to delve into as you contemplate the new life to come.
Great for new dads who:
“Men will find reassurance, as well as the insights and skills needed to manage work, family expectations, and their own needs as they adapt to their new role.”
John Carr is certainly qualified to write this book. He’s a dad of three, a social worker and a psychotherapist who has studied the development of both children and men. And as a dad-to-be, develop you will. This guide to the first three years is full of all the practical advice you’d expect, but also aims to offer an insight into the emotional turmoil that first time fatherhood brings in its wake.
Great for new dads who:
“The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope.”
Possibly the most humourous title in the list, this Ladybirds for Grown Ups book gets to the very core of being a dad. From bad dad jokes to the tight-fistedness that comes naturally to every man after the birth of his first child, this beautifully illustrated picture book gives the sort of insight into fatherhood that far weightier tomes simply fail to deliver.
Great for new dads who:
So that’s our rundown of the best books for new dads and dads-to-be. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments below. Welcome to the journey of life, dad!
