The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year (New Father Series)

Finding a book for first-time dads that isn't a bro'd-out, lame joke-book with gags about staring at your partners breasts was staggeringly harder to find than I'd expected. I've read two of Brott's books—this one and it's series predecessor The Expectant Father—and both are superb, down-to-earth, informed guides to give you calm peace of mind when the newborn arrives. If you actually want to learn and be spoken to like an adult rather than an overgrown child, this is the book (and series) for you.

The book is broken up into sections (chapters, I suppose) like 1 Week and 1 Month, and I have been reading the book in accordance with these milestones as my daughter reaches them and so far this book is spot on. There is a wealth of information here for questions you may have about anything from leading up to delivery to a year down the road. I was able to ask intelligent questions the day my daughter was born about things like APGAR scores, etc. that they never would have bothered telling me had I never known to ask. I have been thoroughly impressed, and downright comforted at times by the information in this text and highly recommend it to any first time dads.

I purchased The New Father after reading the Expectant Father while my wife was pregnant. I like the layout of the chapters by month and also the format of the information provided including understanding what the baby is up to, what mom is up to, and what I may be feeling. Some parts of the book are a little woo woo and new age for me. On the whole, though the book has a lot of practical pieces of advice and also has given me a ton of confidence with my little one. In particular, the step by step on how to change a diaper made it super easy for me to change my first one and after that, I started to feel like I could do this. I think it also helped me gain the trust of my wife who appreciated that I was interested (and probably also that I was dealing with the diaper in the first place) and looked like I wasn't completely lost. I did also purchase the audible book and recommend that in addition to the hardcopy. I listened to chapters a couple of times on the way to work and even while running which allowed some concepts that were more complex to sink in more thoroughly.

Do you have an outspoken, know-it-all uncle who'd spout off advice at the Thanksgiving table without any reasonable backup to his claims? Prepare to enjoy it in written form.I think Armin's heart is in the right place; he wants fathers to be more confident in how they can nurture and help their new children. But his oddball approach has only reinforced one key lesson in fatherhood: you need to find your own way for your one-of-a-kind child.If that was the real lesson, then thank you.

Finally! A parenting book that takes the father's roll seriously! So many new dad books out there are "bro" centric in their approach and it is very refreshing to read one that is to the point and informative! What's really great about Brott's book is that he breaks it down month by month and gives a summery at the end of each chapter. Not only does this allow the reader to go at his own pace (finding time to read as a new dad can be daunting) but creates a reference point for when you just want to look up something quickly.Speaking of the summery at the end of each chapter, I love that he also includes what might be going on with you, your partner, AND your baby during these months. It allows you to really check in with yourself or your partner to see how things are going. As a new dad, I highly recommend this book!

Got this book for my husband after he read the author’s pregnancy book & loved it. He is not a reader at all- we’ve been together over 10 years & I can count on one hand all the books he’s read in that time! He loves how the chapters are broken up by month, he usually reads one month ahead of whatever stage baby is at. We both really like the authors humor throughout the book, but he also has some really great and informative info in there too! Some of it doesn’t apply to everyone & is a little outdated- assuming dad will go back to work & mom will care for baby... But we just laugh at that stuff & move on...

The author does a great job getting the perspective of the father when raising children. I agree that fathers play a huge role with the development of our children. However, much of the research, blogs, etc are geared towards mothers. I’m glad he was able to hit on this point and make it known that we also play a valuable role in society as fathers. There are just too many kids that I work with that either don’t have their father in their lives or do not have a healthy attachment to their father.This book gives us a helpful guide into child-rearing. Some things my wife and I may not agree with, but he does a fairly good job with staying neutral and unbiased, which I’m sure can be difficult being an author with lived experience . I would recommend for first time dads...and anyone who wants a refresher!

I read along to the month as my son goes through his first year without skipping ahead. It's important to note that the milestones that he starts off with are not absolutes (though my son is reaching these), so if your child is on their way to this goal, met it already, or has not (as in not yet started teething, things like that), then you don't necessarily have a cause for concern. This is important to know, considering the message boards and websites that set absolutes, worry-mongering, and personal judgement over your individual child.There are 1-2 topics per chapter, which may or may not be relevant to your situation, or it's something you have already done. I skip these about 25% of the time for either of those reasons, but don't feel it was a waste of my $, it's still useful information if it is needed. some topics include planned childcare, if you already have a child, emotional connections/jealousy.I won't be keeping this after he is a year old, rather have a friend to give it away to - they will definitely get good use out of this as well.

Wow, what a read!I bought this book as a present and thought that I'd quickly skim read it before giving it to the recipient but became so engrossed that I read this from cover to cover.It is extremely informative without being condescending or patronising and is very easy to digest. It is well laid out with each month of a baby's first year covered in 12 separate chapters. The practical help is invaluable and any looming decisions become easy with all pros and cons of each situation clearly detailed, so that each person can make the right choice for them and their child. As well as providing an insight into the role of being a parent, the descriptions of each development stage that your baby will go through will prove invaluable together with analysing the emotions that each father and the baby's mother are likely to experience (guilt and anger included).This book is a must read for all new parents, not just for fathers-to-be.

This book was quite useful in the very early days, but after around the 3rd month it starts to lose its appeal. Each chapter is a month in the baby's life apart from the first chapter which is all about the first week. I'd recommend it more as a gift for a first time Father. If you already have kids, I doubt this will tell you anything you don't already know. The biggest criticism I have as someone in the UK is that a lot of the information just simply isn't relevant to me because it talks about things that relate only to America.

This is one of only two books I bought for my husband - I looked at loads and the vast majority are extremely patronising or treat the whole fathering thing as either a joke or a tedious chore. This book is really positive and practical (I learnt lots that wasn't in 'my' books!), serious about important issues but also lighthearted and playful - lots of great sections on nice ideas for playtime. Lovely book, highly recommended. (The other book I liked was How to be a Great Dad which also has a nice positive approach but less detail and probably better for older children.).

I bought this as a guide for my partner before the birth of our first child as I thought he might like to prepare a little! I'd borrowed this from the library and after scouring the shops and seeing what little guide/advice books there were for men for impending fatherhood I thought this was the best and got it for him. He's not a keen reader but I re-read it and thought it was fab. Funny, insightful with advice and tongue-in-cheek/sarcastic anecdotes etc as well. This is by far the best book I have read for men as it can be serious in parts but also funny as well - it doesn't take it seriously all the time. Men who are feeling a bit scared, stressed and worried about what is to come should read this - great stuff!

This is the best book i have read on the subject of becoming a father, the book has a great sence of humour as well as giving you the facts and dispelling the myths of fatherhood. My wife commented (on the chapters i read out loud) that she wished there was a book for mothers written in such a clear concise and natural way. The Author uses examples of his own experience as well as results from professional reserchers and scietists. The book is broken down into months over the first year, showing you what to expect from your baby each month, including really useful information like how to change a nappy, what you need in your first aid kit how to deal with colic and how to wind your baby, it also includes chapters about how you might be feeling and what kind of emotions you may go through reassuring you that most of these are normal and what emotions you Partner will be feeling so you can prepare youself to support her and understand what she is going through. I felt reassured and more prepared for Fatherhood after reading this book i will keep the book close by for reference just to check everthing that is happening is ok and Normal at the different stages of my Baby's development, i cant recommend this book Highly enough for expectant and new fathers.