Pregnancy Help For Dad

A common gripe among moms-to-be is their partner’s lack of interest in all things pregnancy-related. While many women have books about pregnancy piled high on their nightstands, the men in their lives often have an aversion to reading them. It can be frustrating because, at least in my case, I simply wanted my husband to be able to empathize with what I was going through—and there’s something validating about having all your pregnancy symptoms typed out in a book. Not to mention you want your partner to be just as interested in every millisecond of the baby’s development as you are! (And prepared for his or her arrival.) With that in mind, here are three off-the-beaten path pregnancy–and parenting–books for Dad that just may capture his interest.

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook For New Dads by Gary Greenberg. This “survival guide” for dads looks like it was printed in the 1950s but is a modern, funny, and informative take on parenting (moms may like reading it too). It has succinct but very helpful advice on everything from creating the perfect swaddle to driving with a screaming baby in the backseat to administering medicine to an infant It’s also full of  how-to instructions on “manly” baby tasks  like constructing an emergency diaper out of a towel, sock, and duct tape. The sections on bonding activities for dad and baby are especially sweet. Makes a great gift for a soon-to-be or new dad!

Pregnancy Sucks For Men: What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You BOTH Miserable by Joanne Kimes and Jeff Kimes. Though not your typical pregnancy book–some might find it a bit snarky–this is a funny and helpful read for dads-to-be. Written by a husband-and-wife team, it’s broken down in a month-by-month format, offering advice on how men can overcome the many challenges they’ll face during their partner’s pregnancy–i.e preparing the right foods when the woman they love turns into “a hungry beast.” There is also straightforward info, like a checklist on budgeting for baby and a list of what to bring to the hospital on the big day.

The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth and the First Year of Fatherhood by Michael R. Crider. This is one man’s take on becoming a dad, starting when he first learned of his wife’s positive pregnancy test to the end of baby’s first year. Though it’s not full of checklists and advice like the other books listed here, it might still be a helpful read to some dads-to-be looking for reassurance. The author got lots of props for his honesty and humor in writing the book.