Best Parenting Books for New Dads (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A baby is on the way and you want to be ready: the best parenting books for new dads turn worry into a plan. This list compares five books by fit, page count, publication date and edition, and adds five more options worth knowing about.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Expectant Father by Brott	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	We're Pregnant! by Kulp	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	New Dads' Baby Book by Benaroch	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Dude Gonna Be a Dad by Pfeiffer	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Survival Guide by Mactavish	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Expectant Father by Brott

Armin A. Brott·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Armin Brott's 336-page month-by-month guide, updated in the fifth edition, suits an expectant dad who wants thorough, expert-backed preparation.

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Pros

• Month-by-month format covers pregnancy through the first months
• Updated fifth edition, dated May 2021
• Draws on OB-GYNs, researchers and hundreds of parents

Cons

• 336 pages is the longest read here
• Pregnancy-focused; the first-year companion is a separate book
• The fifth edition is from 2021, so check for a newer edition

2

We're Pregnant! by Kulp

Adrian Kulp·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Adrian Kulp's 292-page handbook, organized by month of pregnancy, suits a first-time dad who wants a friendly month-by-month walkthrough.

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Pros

• Organized by month and trimester for easy reference
• Goes beyond the due date into early childcare
• Includes milestone trackers and questions for the doctor

Cons

• 2018 edition; check whether a newer edition exists
• Pregnancy-focused, with less on the toddler years
• The funny tone may not suit every reader

3

New Dads' Baby Book by Benaroch

Roy Benaroch MD·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Pediatrician Roy Benaroch's 208-page book of 100 baby-care ideas suits a new dad who wants quick, practical things to do in the first year.

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Pros

• Written by an experienced pediatrician
• 100 baby-care ideas organized by stage to 12 months
• Short skimmable sections for tired parents

Cons

• First-year focus only, nothing on pregnancy
• 208 pages, slimmer than the top two picks
• A pediatrician's view only; no parent anecdotes stated

4

Dude Gonna Be a Dad by Pfeiffer

John Pfeiffer·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

John Pfeiffer's 224-page coach-style guide suits a dad-to-be who wants humor with his pregnancy advice.

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Pros

• Humorous coach-style voice aimed at dads
• Covers the practical nine months: nursery, name, hospital bag
• 224 pages, a weekend read

Cons

• 2011 edition is the oldest of the main picks
• Pregnancy-only scope, nothing on the baby years
• Humor-first tone may not suit every reader

5

Survival Guide by Mactavish

Scott Mactavish·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Scott Mactavish's 132-page military-style manual suits a first-time father who wants short, funny, no-nonsense advice.

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Pros

• 132 pages, the shortest read here
• Straightforward military-style humor
• Defines dad vocabulary like binky and onesie

Cons

• 2005 edition is the oldest listing here
• 132 pages, the slimmest here
• Covers pregnancy, birth and babyhood briefly rather than deeply

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More picks to compare

• New Dad Baby Hacks by HardingPractical strategies for the first year in 125 pages.Check on Amazon
• Diaper Dude by PegulaA humorous guide to the first two years of fatherhood.Check on Amazon
• First Year for Dummies by PerkinsA 480-page comprehensive guide for full-time dads.Check on Amazon
• First Time Dad Guide by BlakePregnancy to newborn guidance in a 228-page 2024 guide.Check on Amazon
• The New Father by BrottThe fourth-edition companion to the Expectant Father, 336 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, and value. None of the five picks lists a reading age or grade level, so every book scores 0 on that line. Our How We Pick page explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best parenting books for new dads

Pregnancy or the first year

Three of the five picks focus on the pregnancy months; the Benaroch book covers the baby’s first year instead. Pick the stage you are in, or pair one of each. Partners often read alongside, so our best parenting books for new moms list makes a natural companion.

Check the edition date

Editions here run from 2005 to 2021, and advice on parental leave and prenatal care changes over time. The fifth edition of The Expectant Father, dated 2021, is the most current of the main picks.

Match the tone to the dad

The Pfeiffer and Mactavish books lean on humor; the Brott and Benaroch books lean on medical experts. A dad who reads on the couch will finish the tone he likes, and our best parenting books for raising boys list continues where these leave off.

Before you buy

• Check the edition: the Brott book is in its fifth edition from 2021, while the Mactavish book dates to 2005.
• Match the page count to the reader, from 132 pages to 336.
• Decide the stage: pregnancy guides, first-year guides, or one of each.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should a first-time dad read first?

Start with The Expectant Father: its month-by-month format walks through pregnancy into the first months, and the fifth edition is the most current of the main picks.

Are these books funny or serious?

Both. The Pfeiffer and Mactavish titles use humor, while the Brott and Benaroch titles draw on medical experts. The descriptions make the tone clear, so match it to the dad.

Do I need a separate book for the first year?

It helps. The pregnancy books end at or just after birth, while the Benaroch book and the more-picks list cover the first year and beyond.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Expectant Father by Brott

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Related lists

See every Self-Improvement list and all Nonfiction lists.

More lists: toddler discipline, secure attachment, historical fiction for dads and self-improvement books.