Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads

I am pregnant with my first child and I purchased this book for my husband as a Christmas gift. He is not the "reading" type at all, but from the reviews, I thought this book would capture his interest. Well, I just received the book in the mail and thought I would just thumb through it before wrapping it, but as it turns out, after the first couple pages I was hooked and actually read the entire book myself in a few hours! It is HIGHLY entertaining and I really did laugh out loud many times. Since I'm as clueless about babies as my husband is, I really feel like I learned alot about what we can both expect when our baby arrives (and maybe because the book was written with a lot of humor, I don't feel intimidated or overwhelmed after reading it). I'm so excited for my husband to read this book! Highly, Highly recommended! UPDATE!!! It's several months later and this book was indeed a huge hit with my husband! I've never seen him so interested in a book before and I've found him literally cracking up laughing while reading it. There is so much bonding time between mother and infant early on that I think Dad's may sometimes feel left out. However, this book makes many suggestions about lots of "manly" jobs that dads can take charge of, including very funny and creative ways to take baby pictures, handling all the audio visual equipment, babyproofing the hotel room in record time, creating a fake out drawer of old remote controls/cell phones to keep baby amused, etc. After reading these suggestions, I think my husband feels like he too is needed in the care of the infant and will play just as important of a role in baby's life as I will! He has read comical excerpts of the book to family and friends and has even taken the book to our centering group to show all the other first time dads! You wont' be disappointed! I plan to purchase this book for many new Dad's to come! It would make a great baby shower gift for new Dad's too!

I've been a new dad for approximately 2 months of writing this review. Prior to my baby being born, I invested in several dad books to read to prep myself for this new chapter in my life. The books I purchased/received were: Be Prepared (The Book I'm Reviewing) Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be (New Father Series) The Everything Father's First Year Book: A survival guide for the first 12 months of being a dad Out of all those books, I think I liked "Be Prepared" the best. It was the most entertaining and "hands-on" helpful compared to the others. While all books did overlap in childcare-material, I'm a visual learner. When they described the different techniques on how to do stuff (like burping, shortcuts to changing diapers, etc), "Be Prepared" was the only one with illustrations to help define what I was supposed to do. It's not to say the other books where not good, they were. But those books are more serious and tend to get into deep/serious issues, such as financials, things to help your wife, identifying certain symptoms, complications, etc. "Be Prepared" on the other hand, was more on how to take care of your child and presented in a visual, yet humorous manner. I would consider it a good supplement to other fatherhood books. Recommended.

We got this with our first baby in 2005, the year after the book was printed. We still give this to all of our male friends who are becoming fathers for the first time. What the book is not: Some reviews say they don't like that it is not comprehensive, but I don't think it is meant to be. I mean, it isn't even that many pages, so how can someone think it is going to be comprehensive? I wasn't looking for that in the book. What the book is: It is a general guide with some very specific ideas and advice on how to be helpful as a dad in a situation that is pretty much mother-centered at first. It gave my husband practical tips from how to wash a baby safely, to how to understand all the different kinds of cries a baby can produce. What I, as a mom, liked about the book is that it shows dad's new role in a positive light. So many books geared to new dads are really demeaning to the mom and the new lifestyle a baby will bring. I get tired of books that speak disrespectfully about the moms and the new lifestyle of being a dad, as if it is a huge burden they got tricked into. This book is more about the partnership of parenthood, and I appreciate that. Humor combined with honesty makes this a helpful book, even this many years after its print date.

This book is absolutely hilarious! some pages are so obviously funny and over the top. Some pages i fear someone may actually take seriously! Haha I bought this for my friends husband. I got them both books and I felt this was perfect for dad and since its funny it'd be more fun to read. They loved it! Gets you more excited for the new baby

I searched around for hours looking for the perfect book to get my husband, soon to be first time dad. After lots of research, I was brought back to this book time and time again when I would see it on the tables of many friends houses (coming highly recommended). For my husband, this book was perfect. The chapters are like a page max. The information is concise, but presented in very fun manner. Not to mention they have survival hacks, like how to make a diaper, when you have none. This absolutely appealed to my husbands zombie and apocalyptic side. I actually read a few pages and some of it is pretty funny, made me laugh, yet still learned. :) Personally, I think this book is perfect. I know my husband would not sit through a "chapter book" and read it. This is nice, because he can pick it up read a page on whatever he wants and not have to read 5-10 pages of something. Plus there are pictures so it really breaks up the reading. Highly recommend this book!

This is actually the third time I've purchased this book - once for me and twice as gifts for new dads-to-be. Be Prepared teaches dads a lot of the stuff we're expected to know, but it presents it with a simple approach and plenty of guy humor. Let's face it - the ladies in our lives often take the approach that the more important something is, the more complicated and serious it should be. Instead this book starts from the premise that we men are simple creatures who enjoy a good laugh, and that we should take a simple approach to having a kid and laughing with him. It actually starts with tips on how to be supportive of your pregnant wife, so for best results pick up this book the second you find out that you or one of your friends is going to be a dad. It also includes checklists such as items to grab before leaving the house with your child and exercises you can do to play with your kid and get a workout in at the same time. Is it the only book a new dad should read? Probably not. But if a new dad were to read one book and one book alone, this would be it.

I purchased this book recently for my husband; we are first time parents. I was a little nervous as to how he would respond to the purchase (would he be insulted or what if he didn't read it, would I be insulted?!) but the reviews were so good that I decided to take the plunge. Well let me tell you this book has been great. I noticed my husband picked it up the first night, no doubt due to the funny cartoonish cover (read: unassuming). Since then I'm honestly wondering if I should read it myself as the tips are no nonsense, funny and and insightful. In fact, I'm starting to think he may know more about changing a diaper than I do! One thing I want to specifically mention is that the book is really good about explaining how insane us gals can be around this time. I'm still pregnant and I am feeling the mood swings wash over me like Saturday's laundry! I can't imagine what it's going to be like after the baby has arrived. But with this book under his wing, I have no doubt that my guy will be able to face each crisis with ease. Overall, great topics are covered in just such a way that men can relate to it. Highly recommended.

If you're reading this review, you're probably about to have a baby, and you're wading through the canon of parenting books trying to decide which 1 or 2 are worth reading. If you're interested in something easily digestible, but more than a little helpful, and void of that "parenting is beautiful" New Age crap, this book is worth adding to your short-list. Kind of arranged in Boy Scout Handbook fashion, it's a series of short and (as it says) practical explanations/advice/ideas, arranged by month-spans, for how to deal with your new reality: a partner who's just had her insides ripped out, and a new, helpless, alive thing you're now responsible for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for at least the next 18 years of your life (this book will get you through the first one; the next 17, you're on your own). There are other "parenting books for men" available, but most seem kind of irreverent and unhelpful, almost trying to make a joke. I can't understand why a reader would find that worthwhile -- levity, I guess -- but THIS BOOK ISN'T THAT. Jokes are made, and some things are gimmicky/stereotypical, but for the most part you'll get a lot of actual help from this book. Take a look through the sample pages, and if you like those, you'll like the rest of the book too. Also, if you like the sound of the title, check out "The Art of Roughhousing," which I found similarly well worth buying. (Finally, in case the book's authors ever check these comments: the illustrations are really great.)

I absolutely loved this book! I was looking to order some "Daddy" books for my husband, and I came across this title. Decided to give it a try, and I'm so happy I did. The cool retro illustrations and the humorous way in which the author presents the information is just great! I would buy this book as a present for any of my friends about to become parents. This book strives to give new Dads the confidence they need to feel comfortable in caring for their new offspring. It's not rocket science, just parenthood. Pratical tips and high entertainment quality! Who can ask for more?

My husband read this cover to cover. It is informative yet fun. It is very much an American book (diapers, baseball etc) but still mostly relevant and useful. Not a joke book, it is genuinely useful. Not the only book you will ever need, but its a good start. I'd buy other books by same author.

Great book for being prepared. Very useful information and light hearted

パパはこの本が大好きです！ 買ってください！ おもしろいいと実用的なです。 I bought this book for my husband before our son was born, and I enjoy it as much as he does. The book is very funny but so practical, perfect for dads who don't want to go through all the details, but just want to know some information and strategies. I sometimes prefer this book to What to Expect When You're Expecting - of course it doesn't have anywhere near the same information, but it makes me laugh and I've learned a lot from it. Buy this for your husband, he won't be disappointed!

Libro davvero utile e divertente, a parte i disegni che non mi piacevano molto, avrei apprezzato da futura mamma leggere un libro così simpatico per prepararsi alla maternità