The Expectant Father

June 4, 2001
In an expanded and updated version of Brott's 1995 book, the authors once again present a month-by-month guide to pregnancy for the father-to-be. Illustrated throughout with humorous cartoons, the book divides each month of pregnancy into four astute categories: "What She's Going Through" (physical and emotion changes), "What's Going On with the Baby" (physical progress), "What You're Going Through" (physical and emotional changes) and "Staying Involved" (tips on supporting and encouraging the pregnant partner). Since most child-rearing books for men focus primarily on the emotional challenges, it's both refreshing and helpful that these authors include practical advice: recipes, detailed insights into the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and realistic appraisals of the often very high costs of baby furnishings. Most valuable are the sections on the aspects of birth that make many men squeamish (episiotomies, epidurals and cesarean sections) as well as the post-delivery traumas that they tend to avoid facing (finding childcare, dealing with late-night wake-ups, dressing young children and sex after pregnancy). This is an essential book for all expectant fathers. (June)Forecast:Brott, a father of two, who has been called "the superdad's superdad" by
Time magazine, has written five books on fatherhood and hosts
Positive Parenting, a national radio talk show. Considering the increasing number of fathers who want to be actively involved in parenting, this book, with its Father's Day release, should do at least as well as the original, which was a bestseller.

October 25, 2010
In this updated third edition of Brott's guide for new fathers, the parenting expert (Fathering Your Toddler) gives dads-to-be a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect as they prepare to welcome a baby into their family. For each month, Brott and Ash give a rundown of what mothers, babies, and fathers are experiencing physically and emotionally, from moodiness and food cravings (which fathers aren't exempt from) to balancing fatherhood with work. Rather than simply offering a laundry list, Brott and Ash explore, explain, and perhaps most importantly, assuage anxiety about the issues that arise and evolve over the course of a pregnancy. Seemingly every topic of concern is covered, from morning sickness, foods to avoid, midwives, doulas, and adoption to worries over miscarriage and birth defects, the latter addressed with calm, sympathetic advice. Brott and Ash's measured, experienced tone offers assurance and guidance for those new to the stresses and worries of impending fatherhood, making this a must-have for anyone expecting.

August 1, 2015

Brott ("Ask Mr. Dad" column) updates The New Father, now in its third edition, with a month-by-month look at baby development, supplemented with sections on what's going on with your partner and what you're going through as a father. Every topic relevant to infancy is addressed, including colic, breastfeeding, sleep, developmental milestones, and vaccines.

The Expectant Father, coauthored with Ash (Tropical Style), is similarly arranged, with additional breakdowns of what's happening with the baby and staying involved. New in this fourth edition is expanded information on adoptive fathers, multiples, overcoming infertility, the ART (assistive reproductive technology) of fatherhood, and GI dads. The third edition is less than five years old, making this update optional. VERDICT These phone book-sized volumes are among the most comprehensive (changing a diaper takes ten steps and covers two pages) father-to-be books. Brott's pleasing style steers clear of the caveman humor usually associated with "from dude to dad" texts.

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