The New Dad's Survival Guide: Man-To-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers

Mactavish presents a useful-though by no means comprehensive-guide for any dad-to-be who doesn't care about details and just wants to learn what's going to happen when his partner gives birth and how he should go about changing a diaper. The author is no doctor; he's ""just a dude who's been through it twice,"" and his lingo-""BCF"" means ""be cool, fool"" (borrowed from Mr. T.); ""FPP"" is your ""female parenting partner""; an ""NFU"" is a ""new family unit""-is appropriately casual. The book covers the most basic of parenting skills from birth through three months, with a few toddler tips thrown in. It's humorous (or insensitive, depending on one's point of view) in its approach. For example, on postpartum depression, Mactavish warns ""PPD is a beaucoup serious condition that can have a devastating effect on the FPP."" Although most of the book's advice seems quite obvious, tips on assisting a partner in labor (""offer backrubs on a consistent basis""), helping a baby pass gas (or ""dislodge an air biscuit"") and preventing diaper rash (""keep the butt dry after bathing"") will be of use to any new father.