Think Ahead to Father’s Day with This Book
by FireMom ~ May 5th, 2008. Filed under: Book Review.Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our feed.
I was sent The Baby Bonding Book for Dads: Building a Closer Connection with Your Baby to review. And boy, did I enjoy this quick, insightful and funny read. While it may be 93 pages in length, it won’t take much longer than one sitting to devour the book. Well, unless you already have a toddler in your house and need to keep stopping to keep him from drawing on the infant with markers. You know, the normal stuff of life.
The book features different chapters for the basic things of parenting that new dads may not know or may be fearful to try on their own. It covers everything from diapering to sleep to taking the baby out on his own and just about everything in between. The best part of each chapter is that the laughs abound. The humor is, no doubt, meant to keep dads engaged in the book but moms will get a good laugh as well.
Some of my favorite parts? First of all, the author suggests dads consider babywearing. Any man that suggests any form of babywearing to another man is okay in my book. Kudos, kudos! Furthermore, breastfeeding is not discussed as an annoying possibility but is talked about as the norm for feeding infants. His tips to help the new mom during breastfeeding (bring water and snacks without being asked) made me smile. Furthermore, the author didn’t go against the current recommendations of holding off on solids and even went so far as to point out that it is normal for some kids to drink nothing but milk for a full year. I wanted to jump for joy. The lactivist in me wants to send this guy a thank you card.
Other favorites include the reminder to read to your child and to make sure to snap photographs not only of special times but everyday life. (Though I did have to laugh when he suggested that dads aren’t in the pictures because they are the ones manning the camera. Not so in this FireHouse. There are lots of pictures of FireDad with the boys but very few of me with the kids because I’m the photographer in the family.)
The book ends, before the epilogue, with an idea for dads to write to their babies. I got all weepy with the idea and the letter that he included. Of course, I get weepy at the drop of a hat so I’m not sure that should be a true judgment of weep-inducement but, alas, it made me weepy.
Another added bonus to this book is the glorious photography. BigBrother routinely stole the book from me (when he wasn’t trying to draw on LittleBrother with markers) to look at the pictures of dads and babies. If BigBrother approves, they must be good shots. He’s my little Photo Bug.
All in all, I would absolutely recommend this as a gift for a brand new dad or a dad-to-be. My Husband, a dad twice over now, found that some of the stuff was old hat to him but also enjoyed the humor and some of the tips that he hadn’t thought of on his own (like the mention of writing letters). The book’s deomographic is really summarized in the preface with the author’s own words.
Most men are like I was before my first child, having never even held a baby in our lives and with little or no experience taking care of kids.
If you know a Dad that falls into that category, consider purchasing him the book now or, you know, for Father’s Day which is just over a month away!
More at the book’s blog.
