Learning that you’re going to be a new dad can be very stressful. I know because I was. I had no idea what I was going to do once our child came into the world, so I did what I naturally do when I want to learn about something. I went online and began researching. Here’s a little tip: every new dad needs these instructions, called The Baby Owner’s Manual

What I found was a lot of confusing and overwhelming amounts of information on taking care of a newborn. I didn’t know where to begin and couldn’t make sense of it all. As a man with a very analytical personality, I began feeling very uncomfortable with the idea that I’d be responsible for the life of our newborn son and I didn’t have the slightest clue on how to make sure he was taken care of and safe.

Then my sister sent me a gift in the mail. It was a book called The Baby Owner’s Manual. At first I laughed thinking it was a gag gift. She knew my about my apprehension with being a new father so I figured she was just poking fun at me. I had seen this book for sale online and thought it’d be funny to buy but I really just thought it would only be good for a few laughs.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it is actually a very good guide. Yes, it’s written just like an owner’s manual for a new gadget, but that’s part of the reason why it’s so good.

I am an instruction reader

By that I mean that, just like most guys, I love to read the instructions that come with the gadgets I buy. The second I opened this book I felt a sense of recognition. For the first time I was reading something on how to care for my future child that I could relate to.

Don’t get me wrong,The Baby Owner’s Manual is very funny in that it uses terminology normally found in instruction manuals, but it is still very informative. For example, the book refers to the baby’s doctor as the baby’s “service provider” and instead of saying you’re going to teach something to the baby, it says that you will “program” the baby. The book is also filled with great simplistic diagrams that are minimalistic and very easy to follow.

As a new father, I really enjoyed reading through all the techniques and guides. It made me feel more at ease about what’s to come and it actually helped in preparing me for the day our son is born.

Full of useful information

Not only is this a fun and interesting read, but this book also has plenty of real, useful information. It covered everything from preparing your home for the baby’s arrival, general care, feeding and health, to growth and development, and safety and what to do in case of an emergency.

The Baby Owner’s Manual even includes helpful charts you can copy that will help in keeping track of the baby’s sleep, bladder activity, and bowel movements.

I really recommend this book for anyone that’s getting ready to bring a new life into this world. It’s a good read for anyone especially new dads. There are other books in the series including “The Toddler Owner’s Manual” and “The Teen Owner’s Manual“. And for mothers that are expecting, they also have “The Pregnancy Instruction Manual“.

What books do you recommend for new dads?