books about pregnancy, babies and being a good father
let’s face it: parenting is overwhelming. From the moment she discovers that she is expecting until years after the baby is born, her life is full of firsts as she is suddenly responsible for an additional life.
It’s exciting. it’s exciting it’s probably one of the best experiences of your life. but if we’re honest, it’s also scary… well, insert a synonym for what you put in a diaper here. so why not get some help?
You are reading: Books for expecting dads
The good news is that millions of new and expecting parents have been through the exact same roller coaster of feelings. none of them had to be alone. they have searched and, in some cases, used their experience to create their own libraries full of tips.
the only problem? There are so many books full of advice for parents that it can seem impossible to know where to start. what is worth reading? What books are particularly good for dads-to-be, that won’t put you to sleep, that will resonate, that will provide actionable information? well, you’ve come to the right place.
Consider this your comprehensive guide to the books that will help you with all things parenting, from pregnancy to just being a good parent. because hey, you deserve all the help you can get. let’s do this.
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best overall books for dads-to-be
Among all the books we considered, two stood out as excellent overview books that cover a ton of topics relevant to dads-to-be. call them the pentathlon winners, the lifetime achievement award winners… you get the idea. these two are, overall, the best baby books for dads.
the winner: caring for your infant and toddler, by the american academy of pediatrics
We call this book the bible of parenting. it’s a beast, 960 pages packed with advice, tips and reassurance. if you only have the patience for one dad/baby book, go for this one.
what is it about:
everything? That sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s actually not far from the truth. Now in its seventh edition, Caring for Your Infant and Toddler has dozens of chapters divided into pregnancy, birth, and age ranges up to 5 years. You’ll also find sections on sleep, feeding your baby, common ailments, and more.
It’s not just a baby book for dads, but if anything, that makes it all the more relevant. The book contains so much information that you may feel overwhelmed at times, but it’s relevant enough for both parents that they can always refer to it together.
what makes it great:
While the length is overwhelming at first, it’s also organized in a way that’s perfect for comprehending and skimming. each chapter is short, only one or two pages, divided into topics that are easily recognizable.
that means you can treat the book almost like an encyclopedia. instead of reading it from cover to cover, you can quickly and easily consult very specific questions about feeding your baby, diseases and any other topic that may be relevant.
This is one way of summarizing the book: it’s almost like a more reliable version of google. When you have those 2am panic wake-ups and don’t know what to do, a quick reference can help you get valuable advice or at least make sure that whatever your little one is doing (apart from sleeping) is perfectly normal.
My wife and I read it together, chapter by chapter, each time our first daughter approached a new age range covered by the book.
view your baby and toddler care on amazon
runner-up: happiest baby on the block, by harvey karp
This author’s name may sound familiar. dr Harvey Karp is the creator of the Snoo, a smart bassinet that does a surprisingly good job of keeping your baby calm and sleeping (our review here). Karp is also behind the 5 for calming a crying baby, which we have found to be extremely effective. this book, perhaps not so surprisingly, goes in that same direction.
what is it about:
sleep, of course! the subtitle (the new way to soothe crying and help your newborn baby sleep longer) sums it up. it’s essentially a deeper, more researched, and more complete version of the 5s technique mentioned above.
In just over 350 pages, dr. Karp dives into the reasons why your baby cries and why, sometimes, it’s just unavoidable. Of course, he also discusses techniques he can learn to minimize the unnecessary side of that equation, teaching parents and dads how to get a little extra sleep during long, tiring baby nights.
what makes it great:
If you’re like most new dads, you know that a new parent’s life consists of two main parts: trying to get your baby to sleep and/or stop crying and soaking up every second of peace and quiet. . why not get a book that tries to help you do exactly that?
tranquility is an especially important part of the book. dr Karp goes to great lengths to avoid scaring new parents or making them think they are doing something wrong. instead, he explains in detail why babies behave the way they do, positioning his tips and techniques as natural extensions rather than revolutionary new ideas.
The book has received some criticism that it is just an extension of his 5, which are readily available from any quick online search. but this book goes into much more detail than that, expanding on the safe ways parents can take these steps. It’s not as comprehensive as the winner in this category, but it still deserves to be on any list of books on how to be a good parent. I can tell you from personal experience using the 5s technique (we had the dvd og version) it made me feel like a superhero with my two daughters so check it out.
see the happiest baby on the block on amazon
There you have it: the best books for new and first-time dads; if you only read one or two, make it one of them; and yes, we know they’re not dad-specific, but most dads are. it is not gender specific.
best pregnancy books for dads
pregnancy is about your partner, but let’s be clear: you need to understand what’s going on. after all, the little one preparing to be born will be yours. It can be hard to find good pregnancy books for dads, but we have a clear winner in this category. if you want a cheat sheet, we wrote a detailed guide in our week-by-week pregnancy guide for dads.
the winner: carley roney’s belly
This was the book my wife and I read together when she became pregnant with our first child, Kenzie. she loved it for a variety of reasons. If you’re looking for a good pregnancy book for dads, chances are you are, too.
what is it about:
title content: this is about pregnancy. includes everything from baby’s development week by week to keeping track of what’s really going on to tips on what to wear. Along the way, you’ll find a birth plan checklist, a baby kick tracker, and more helpful nuggets.
The book is written primarily from mother to mother, but goes to great lengths to ensure its relevance to the rest of the family as well. Parents-to-be, friends, grandparents and more can find relevant information to help them prepare for the birth.
what makes it great:
It’s probably a tie between information and tone. this book is deliberately written in a less authoritative and more humorous voice. That sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. this is the book that (jokingly) advises the mother to “run for the hills” when the first pregnancy test comes back positive.
However, the information itself is not negligible. the brevity of the book does not detract from its usefulness; each page has practical advice, and especially for dad, that advice tends to be great context throughout the pregnancy. the many worksheets throughout the book also aid in the practicality of this gem.
See Also: T. Davis Bunn – Book Series In Order
view the baby bump book on amazon
books that teach you to be a good father
There are a thousand and one books on how to be a great mom. and there should be: moms are great. parenting books, on the other hand, can be hard to find. that’s actually a big part of the reason we started our company, fathercraft. still, they are out there. you just have to know where to look. Below are what we consider to be the best books to prepare for parenthood.
the winner: the future father by armin a. brother
Maybe it’s a boring choice. after all, this is the one in all those guides that rank what to expect from books for dads. still, there’s a reason it’s on every list, including this one, and it’s in its fifth edition: it’s a really good book.
what is it about:
is essentially a guide, organized by month, about what happens during pregnancy and the first few months after the baby is born. The problem: It’s all from a parent’s perspective. the book covers everything from what’s going on with your partner to tips on how you can get involved and help throughout the process.
As a result, the 336 pages branch out quite a bit. In this book, you’ll find everything from starting a college fund, what to expect during labor, and how you can help.
what makes it great:
apart from the great amount of general information, my favorite part here is the father’s perspective. the book does a great job of covering what most other books don’t cover: the father’s perspective during pregnancy and the questions that can arise there.
Throughout the pages, the author inserts some levity with cartoons that summarize situations you’ll encounter.
see the father-to-be on amazon
the runner-up: get ready with gary greenberg
Fair warning: This book is from 2004 and its cover looks like it was published in the 1950s. But, it’s the highest rated book on Amazon specifically on this topic, so you know it has to be good; 2500+ reviews can’t lie, can they?
at least, in this case, they don’t. Greenberg focuses on the stress, the challenges, the new situations, and yes, the fun that expectant parents will experience. is a book about preparing for parenthood and then some.
what is it about:
Essentially, it’s about giving baby advice to dads. of course it is. that means all sorts of unique tips, like how to stay awake at work and build an emergency diaper.
When a book specifically tells you to pull out the deep stats and research, you know you’re in for a ride. It’s impossible to list all the tips you can find here, so we’ll let one speak for itself: “how to create a lure drawer full of old wallets, remotes, and cell phones to throw the baby off your real gear.”
what makes it great:
It may already be obvious: the offbeat humor, of course. Parenting and fatherhood are hard, and this book makes it a little less hard. however, what really makes this book special is the fact that in all that fun, you can find tons of helpful real-world advice.
It’s not as comprehensive as other guides like this category winner, and it doesn’t have to be. instead, it makes sure you keep reading, and you’ll be amazed at how much useful information you absorb in the process.
see get ready on amazon
the bronze medalist: home game: an accidental guide to parenthood by michael lewis
yes, that’s michael lewis, author of bestselling books like liar’s poker, moneyball, and the big short. Turns out he writes parenting tips too and he’s pretty good at it.
what is it about:
The game at home is not one of those omniscient guides. Instead, it’s a first-person account of how Lewis went through what every parent-to-be experiences: unexpected feelings, stress, panic, and a sense of guilt that he didn’t know what he was doing.
More specifically, the book is a detailed account of what Lewis went through when each of his three children was born. he’s just like any other father, and that’s what makes his story, and this book, so special.
what makes it great:
The brutal honesty, glorious banality, and subtle humor of Lewis’s tale. don’t use this book if you’re looking for comprehensive advice. but if you just need to know that all the other new dads are going through the same thing you are, that’s absolutely perfect.
see home game on amazon
for stay at home dads: the best stay at home dad by shannon carpenter
We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again: Parenting without going crazy requires taking a light approach. That’s why it’s so cool that Shannon Carpenter is a stay at home mom who also trained at Second City (yes, the world famous comedy club) and wrote a book on how to be a stay at home mom.
what is it about
no surprise here: how to be an amazing stay-at-home dad. but this book delves into how to cook and clean, but also into thorny and important topics like mental health. expect lots of advice from shannon’s 15 years as a parent, but from many others too – this book also includes anecdotes from dozens of other stay-at-home parents.
what makes it great
Humour, unsurprisingly, plays a big role: the publisher’s weekly said this book has “light-hearted jokes and plenty of comic asides.” but also practical advice. And since it was released in late 2021, it really was released with the modern dad in mind.
see the latest stay at home dad on amazon
preparation for parenting books
Books on how to prepare for your baby can cover a wide variety of topics. you are probably afraid of what you can do to prepare your child for a lifetime. these books can help you feel a little less worried.
the winner: determination: the power of passion and perseverance by angela duckworth
Of course, it’s not a book for or about babies. But it’s one of the most important skills you can teach your child from birth through adulthood.
what is it about:
is a book about the inherent potential of tenacity, the ability to persevere through adversity and reach heights you didn’t think possible. Is it about learning not to give up, but to fight for something bigger and better?
that sounds a bit distant, but it’s sound advice coming from someone who has consulted with the white house, nba, nfl and more. duckworth essentially writes a book about the practice, making the saying perfect, and making it real in the process.
what makes it great:
The most important thing about this book is that anyone can be great with the right determination and focus.
That’s relevant both for the parents-to-be and for the children they want to raise. it’s impossible not to finish reading this book and not feel ready to take on the world, while also understanding what it takes to teach your little one the same approach.
see arena on amazon
runner-up: emily oyster’s cribsheet
Think of it as the economist’s guide to parenting. We promise, that’s more fun than it sounds. is part of a new wave of books that use data to help you improve and optimize your parenting skills.
what is it about:
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data, first and foremost. but in reality it is about the conclusions to which these data lead. oyster takes conventional wisdom that tends to be pretty stressful (never sleep with your baby), then uses data to show that context actually matters more than absolute truths.
The author methodically goes through all the typical advice, but shows how it is (or isn’t) supported by sufficient evidence or studies. the result tends to be quite relaxing. Turns out you don’t really have to follow an exact plan to raise your baby.
what makes it great:
the writing is exceptional. that matters, because it’s easy to write a data-driven book and make it look completely boring. oyster has achieved the opposite, which makes this a surprisingly fun read.
Then, of course, there is the royal advice. having calming thoughts backed by comprehensive data feels relaxing and surprisingly helpful. it’s impossible to leave reading this book without feeling better about your impending fatherhood, knowing that everything is going to be okay.
if you like this one, oster has a prequel of sorts called expecting better (amazon). we’ll let you guess what it’s all about.
see crib on amazon
the bronze medalist: healthy sleep habits, happy child by marc weissbluth m.d
This is the book my wife used to help her two children learn to sleep. listen, dream books can be judgmental, but this one is far from it. that alone means it deserves a spot on our list.
what is it about:
sleep habits, of course! It sounds obvious, but what the title doesn’t mention is that not all sleep habits are created equal. instead, this book offers many options based on your comfort level.
Are you a family with two parents who work, or one of you stays at home? each may require a different strategy, and this one covers both. is packed with helpful tips on everything you need to know about your baby’s sleep.
what makes it great:
We mentioned poor judgment earlier, which you might recognize as an issue here. The best books for dads-to-be bring you down to their level, rather than expecting you to bring you up to theirs.
At the same time, Weissbluth isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Her advice is backed by science, but she doesn’t shy away from answering general questions like whether keeping your baby up later helps her sleep. Does she not know the details of sleep regression and what to do? take a look at this book.
see healthy sleep habits, happy child on amazon
best baby books for dads (what to read to your baby)
Finding books for dads to read to babies can be difficult because they all tell you something different about what works best. In the end, it’s all about your preferences, but we’ve selected a few options that we particularly love.
the winner: sandra boynton’s bedtime book
boynton is our favorite board book author, bar none. this book shows why.
what is it about:
A group of animals is getting ready to go to bed. If that doesn’t sound like great promise for the next Hollywood blockbuster, I don’t know what will. Seriously, it’s a fun book about all those activities (from putting on pajamas to brushing teeth) that your little ones do before bed.
what makes it great:
boynton’s book is unique. they have the magical ability to entertain both you and your little one. the new page may be unexpected or just plain silly. this one is about establishing bedtime routines, which is, of course, a relevant topic. just be careful that you don’t calm her down as much as your baby.
view the go to bed book on amazon
runner-up: opposites by sandra boynton
another classic book by sandra boynton, it is truly “fun for all ages”. Babies love the colorful pictures, toddlers love the humor, and adults love it fast.
what is it about:
opposites, of course! From big to small and from dark to light, this book teaches your child the concept in such a fun way that they won’t even notice. you get a 16-page board book that is sure to entertain you as well as your little one.
what makes it great:
nonsense is the obvious answer here, but opposites go deeper. By talking about opposites and why they’re not always bad, Boynton manages to convey a message of inclusivity and positivity. At the same time, that doesn’t make it any less fun.
look at the opposites on amazon
the bronze medalist: whatever you’re currently reading.
Here’s a secret: For newborns and toddlers, what you read to them doesn’t really matter much. instead, they just want to hear the sound of your voice. So why don’t you take a book you’re reading anyway and read it to them?
is a perfect way to read one of the books mentioned above. You can finally finish that book that has been on your nightstand, or even make a resolution to start a new one. As long as you find something to read to them, you win.
it’s not a book, but we include it anyway (hey, it’s our website)
the winner: parenting education: an online course for dads-to-be
It may not technically be among the best books for expectant parents, but this is our list. And, full disclosure, this is our product too. at least we put it at the end right? but seriously, online parenting courses can be a great complement to reading: video content can demonstrate skills and convey information in a way that print books simply can’t.
In nine video modules, you’ll learn about everything from preparing for baby’s arrival to diapering skills to the essential gear you need. An 80-page workbook with plenty of cheat sheets helps make sure you don’t get sidetracked. and of course you get all of that from the perspective of parents who have been through the same thing as you.
more information on father’s education
closing the book on our best books for dads-to-be
do you have to read all these books and consume all that content? probably not. but find a partner who talks to you to help you prepare. use them as a helpful guide through the incredible and crazy journey that is parenthood. It’s all about the baby now, but you can play a leading role in that process.
If you’re looking for more ways to prepare as a new or new dad, let us introduce ourselves: we’re fathercraft, a company dedicated to creating resources for dads. Learn more about us here, or download some of our favorite resources for free right here.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2020, but was updated in May 2021 to include new and updated information
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