The 5 Best Books for Expecting Dads of 2023

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  • Becoming a father for the first time is a huge culture shock. Nothing can really prepare you for how it feels to become a dad for the first time. 
  • As a dad-to-be, preparation and information are vital. The more you know about what to expect, the better prepared you’ll be for those early months of fatherhood. 
  • Your partner will be reliant on you for support, and there are lots of things you can do as an expectant father to make the newborn phase easier for you all as a family. 
  • There are lots of books for dads-to-be, so it’s important to choose one that covers everything you need to know before the baby’s arrival. You’ll likely want a pregnancy guide for expectant dads, but there are also plenty of parenting books you can choose from.

Before your baby arrives, it’s hard to imagine what it will feel like to be someone’s dad. You might feel nervous about how you’ll cope with the sleepless nights or grossed out by the idea of diaper changes. Some dads-to-be worry about the birth itself, whereas others are more focused on whether they’re ready for the years of parenting ahead. 

No matter what you’re worried about, it always helps to do some research. Information is power when you’re a new dad. With more information at your disposal, you’ll be better prepared for the wild ride of fatherhood, especially in the early days when everything feels brand new.

Speak to friends and family members who you admire for being good dads; what tips do they have for you as an expectant dad? Books are another fantastic source of information.

The best books for expecting dads are filled with evidence-based information, personal anecdotes, and guidance to help you through the early months. Whether you want a funny memoir or a book of no-nonsense facts, there’s something out there for every new dad.

Top
You Will Rock As a Dad!: The Expert Guide to First-Time Pregnancy and Everything New Fathers Need to Know
Most Reassuring
Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads' Top 16 Concerns About Pregnancy, Childbirth & Becoming a Father
Most Supportive
I’m Going to be a Dad!: The Ultimate Pregnancy Handbook for First-Time Fathers: How to Become the Best Partner — Pregnancy Tips and Insights for ... Handbook: A Guide for First-Time Fathers)
You Will Rock As A Dad by Alex Grace
Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads
I’m Going to be a Dad!
$13.89
$14.99
$14.99
Top
You Will Rock As a Dad!: The Expert Guide to First-Time Pregnancy and Everything New Fathers Need to Know
You Will Rock As A Dad by Alex Grace
$13.89
Most Reassuring
Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads' Top 16 Concerns About Pregnancy, Childbirth & Becoming a Father
Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads
$14.99
Most Supportive
I’m Going to be a Dad!: The Ultimate Pregnancy Handbook for First-Time Fathers: How to Become the Best Partner — Pregnancy Tips and Insights for ... Handbook: A Guide for First-Time Fathers)
I’m Going to be a Dad!
$14.99

Our Choice: You Will Rock As A Dad by Alex Grace

You Will Rock As A Dad by Alex Grace
  • Grace, Alex (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 140 Pages – 11/27/2022 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
Pros
Cons
  • Informative guide that leaves no stone unturned
  • Stereotypically male and filled with sports references, which may not appeal to all expectant dads

You Will Rock As A Dad is our favorite survival guide for expectant fathers. This book covers everything soon-to-be fathers need to know about, from pregnancy, to birth and beyond. You Will Rock As A Dad focuses on the changes your partner is going through so you can be a supportive partner and offer the help they really need. 

This expectant dad’s survival guide addresses the common fears expectant dads have, reassuring readers that they’re not alone. Pregnancy can be a scary time, and many expectant dads suffer in silence. This book not only reassures dads that their fears are normal but encourages readers to reach out for support. 

The book doesn’t shy away from the nitty gritty. You’ll learn about what newborns look like, so there’ll be no surprises at the birth. By the end of the book, you’ll be an expert in pregnancy symptoms and how to support your partner through them. The book will hold your hand through writing a birth plan and all the wider questions you and your partner need to consider as part of that process. 

One of the reasons we consider this one of the best books for expecting dads is the focus on a healthy relationship. Alex Grace includes lots of tips to maintain a happy relationship through pregnancy and beyond. You will be your partner’s main support through pregnancy, birth and parenthood, and this book will ensure you do a good job. 

From hospital bag checklists to how to pick the perfect baby name, this book covers everything you need to know as you prepare for your new arrival. It will help you perfect your parenting style and become the kind of dad you want to be.

Number of Pages: 178 pages | Publication Date: November 27, 2022
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Pregnancy Pick: We’re Pregnant! The First Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook by Adrian Kulp

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We’re Pregnant! The First Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook by Adrian Kulp
  • Kulp, Adrian (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 292 Pages – 04/24/2018 (Publication Date) – Rockridge Press (Publisher)
Pros
Cons
  • Informative pregnancy guide
  • Easy to read
  • Doesn’t cover birth

We’re Pregnant! The First Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook is the perfect pregnancy book for expectant dads. It guides you through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. This book walks you through each week, month, and trimester of pregnancy so you know what to expect.

Unlike some other books, this guide features information about the emotional and physical changes your partner is likely to experience so you can better support them as they become a mom for the first time. 

This handbook provides just the right amount of reassurance and hand-holding for expectant dads. Dads-to-be are often terrified (and with good reason!), but this book will equip you with the know-how and confidence to stay cool and collected as you embark on fatherhood. 

We’re Pregnant is packed with digestible chunks of information. The layout of the book means the information isn’t overwhelming, so that you can take it one page at a time. It’s easy to skip through the book to find the information you need in the moment. 

The main downside to this book is that it doesn’t cover birth. If you were hoping for a book about birth choices, what to expect during birth, and how to be the world’s best birth partner, this is not the book for you. Other than this, the book is fantastic, so don’t write it off. If you do pick this book, simply ensure you do some additional reading around birth so you can be an effective birth partner on the big day.  

Number of Pages: 292 pages | Publication Date: April 24, 2018
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Most Reassuring: Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads’ Top 16 Concerns About Pregnancy, Childbirth & Becoming a Father by Zach Tobin 

A Guide to Tackling New Dads’ Top 16 Concerns About Pregnancy, Childbirth & Becoming a Father by Zach Tobin
  • Tobin, Zach (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 276 Pages – 05/17/2022 (Publication Date) – Live Truth Publishing (Publisher)
Pros
Cons
  • Honest
  • Non-judgemental
  • Comprehensive
  • Covers a lot of topics, doesn’t go in-depth for certain topics

Built for This: A Guide to Tackling New Dads’ Top 16 Concerns About Pregnancy, Childbirth & Becoming a Father is an excellent comprehensive guide to soothe the worries of expectant dads. This book covers how to prepare for birth, how to pay the hospital bills, and how to bond with your baby. 

Built for This answers all the questions expectant dads are afraid to ask. From the sleepless nights to the chaos of having kids, the loss of freedom to the potential changes to your sex life, this book covers all this and more. Zach Tobin’s guide holds your hand as you embark upon the unchartered territory of fatherhood. 

Zach Tobin’s book covers many of the things expectant dads are worried about: finances, parenting advice, and how to protect your relationship from the strains of parenthood. This book is written from personal experience with plenty of honesty and realism throughout. Unlike many books for expectant dads, you won’t find any bro talk or patronizing chat in this guide. 

Tobin’s advice is evidence-based, pragmatic and non-judgemental. As you read his words, you can tell he’s rooting for you. Tobin believes everybody has the choice to be a great dad, and his book is here to help you achieve this. 

Number of Pages: 276 pages | Publication Date: May 17, 2022
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Best Manual: We’re Parents! The First-Time Dad’s Guide to Baby’s First Year: Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive Together by Adrian Kulp

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We’re Parents! The First-Time Dad’s Guide to Baby’s First Year: Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive Together by Adrian Kulp
  • Kulp, Adrian (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 220 Pages – 08/06/2019 (Publication Date) – Rockridge Press (Publisher)
Pros
Cons
  • Features plenty of information about baby care during the first year
  • Simplistic

We’re Parents! The First-Time Dad’s Guide to Baby’s First Year: Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive Together is the must-have book to guide new dads through their baby’s first year of life. Most books for expectant dads feature a couple of chapters about baby care, so it’s great to see a book that focuses on the entire first year of life. 

As you might imagine, a lot changes during that first year and this book will guide you through the milestones and developmental changes as your baby crawls towards their first birthday. So often, these books are geared towards moms so it’s great to see a baby care book written for new dads.

New parents often joke that new babies don’t come with a baby owner’s manual, but this book is as close as you’ll get. This book will teach you how to change a diaper, how to baby proof your home, and how to swaddle your baby safely. We’re Parents answers all the questions new parents have in a reassuring, supportive, and humorous way. 

Though it is simplistic in style, this book contains basic information about a lot of key areas. You won’t be an expert in fatherhood by the time you finish the book, but hopefully, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities as a dad. Read this book before the baby arrives so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect once your baby arrives. 

Number of Pages: 220 pages | Publication Date: August 6, 2019
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Most Supportive: I’m Going to be a Dad!: The Ultimate Pregnancy Handbook for First-Time Fathers by David Hall

I’m Going to be a Dad!: The Ultimate Pregnancy Handbook for First-Time Fathers by David Hall
  • Hall, David (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 106 Pages – 02/03/2023 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
Pros
Cons
  • Well-written
  • Honest and personal
  • Basic rather than in-depth

I’m Going to be a Dad!: The Ultimate Pregnancy Handbook for First-Time Fathers is one of the most supportive handbooks out there for dads-to-be. Far from the outdated misogynistic advice given by so many expectant dads books, this guide focuses on the importance of equality and support in a relationship. 

David Hall shares personal anecdotes of mistakes he made as a first-time dad so that readers can avoid the same pitfalls. His book is an intimate, honest insight into the struggles faced by new dads, and it’s a breath of fresh air for those who seek authentic parenting advice. Too often, advice is impersonal and generic when people really want to hear real people’s struggles. 

Hall’s guide is perfect for men who dream of being the best dad and partner possible but aren’t sure how to achieve it. By the end of the book, you’ll have a solid foundation of how to support your partner and raise your kids. Many men feel lost in the depth of pregnancy and are unsure how to support their partner best. David Hall explains exactly what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing at each stage of pregnancy to support your partner and prepare for the birth of your baby. 

This new dad’s survival guide focuses on the importance of dads throughout pregnancy and beyond. So often, men can feel pushed to the side or ignored during pregnancy and early parenthood, but this book stresses the importance of being involved. Though it’s only a short book, it’s a perfect starting point for expectant dads.

Number of Pages: 106 pages | Publication Date: February 3, 2023
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Best Books for Expecting Dads


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