Book for new Dads - any recommendations?

[EggsandBacon]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a book on pregnancy/babies that I could get for my partner.

He glazes over at the amount of information that I tell him, and is terribly squeamish so I don't know how far to go with telling him stuff(!), but he has zero knowledge of pregnancy and babies so he was wondering if there is a book that would tell him what he needs to know.

Any suggestions gratefully received (this is first time for both of us, so I don't know what he has to know either!),

E&B

Along with a few friends, I've found the best approach, non nagging approach is to leave a very choice book in the toilet and to remove all his other reading material. I've just graduated DH to "What to expect in the First Year" in the loo and have recently discovered him quoting it at me!!!

Early on I had bought him the Bloke's Guide to Pregnancy, but he found it a bit rubbish. And the Haynes' baby manual was a bit too simplistic for him. My man is quite a factual based guy who likes statistics. Finding a book that's his style and that he can dip in and out of was key for getting my OH reading.

Oh... and EggsandBacon if your man is squeamish, I don't recommend Michael Odent unless you really want to try the kill or cure approach. The photo's are somewhat graphic! My man is a fully qualified army field first aider and has seen some pretty gruesome stuff in his life, but he's been happy to take my counsel to simply "find out on the day".

Haha - the book in the toilet approach sounds just about right!! He sounds similar - likes facts, but won't manage anything graphic (I have to turn over even if Grey's Anatomy is on, he can't stand it). The only thing I can suggest to him is to stay near my head and not the other end on the day.

(He suspect that - like a car crash - he won't be able to look away. I'm obviously so pleased that he views childbirth with the same grim horror as a car crash).

Thanks - glad to know I'm not the only one looking for the non nagging approach.

This.

Mind you I left my copy in the toilet in the vain hope DH might read it, no luck yet.

the Hayne's baby manual - DH enjoyed that one.

'What to Expect' was our bible (Pregnancy and First Year both great).

TBH DH hated the books that were aimed at dads but actually what I found was that he didn't really 'switch on' until we attended NCT. Suddenly it was like he realised there would be a birth and a baby that he needee to get ready for and he really took it on board.

I'm going to disagree with previous posters and say that we both hated the "What to Expect" book. A bit over-medicalising/scaremongering IMO, and not very well "Britishised" from the original American edition. Quite a bossy tone too.
The one we both liked best was the Sears' Baby Book.
You can often find lots of these titles in the local library, maybe see if there's something that might suit your DP there?

DastardlyandSmugly - my DH was the same re suddenly switching on at the NCT classes. In our case, maybe it was because one of the other Dad's had been doing secret revision prior to the class and DH doesn't like not being top of the class (for all his bravado and trying to be cool).

The Haynes Manual in our house - something he can relate to!

We found "Fatherhood: The Truth" by Marcus Berkmann very entertaining - a bit tongue in cheek but, as it turns out, very accurate!

I got the Haynes Baby Manual for DH. It's written specifically for men and covers conception to 2 years. He pretty much glazes over with all the baby info too, but finds this book good and more tuned to his wavelength. I would definitely recommend it. (Also got it on Amazon marketplace for 1p + p&p!)

My partner was given 'The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year' by Armin Brott, which was really helpful and actually contained quite a bit of stuff that my books didn't have. The tone was just right - not patronising, but not frivolous either.

Pregnancy For Men - The Whole Nine Months! By Mark Woods. Published by White Ladder. I bought this yesterday for my partner. It has a month by month guide from conception through to birth, including whats happening to both mum and baby. It also has a 'must do' list at the end of every month which lists things such as how to spoil the mum to be to practical advice such as the dangers of handling cat poo!

It is written in a very down to earth way which is both educational and humourous and non patronising.

I would highly recommend it. Costs around £10.

Thanks everyone - think I'll pay a visit to Waterstones and have a look at some of these. I saw that Mark Woods one online and thought that looked pretty good (as in, probably aimed at the right level for him).

Cheers,
E&B

Ditto the Marcus Berkmann one. Not a technical guide, but funny and true.

Ditto also a lot of dads not "switching on" until AN classes start!