The Joy of Sex may have landed you here, but The Joy of Fatherhood is something else entirely. This well-indexed guide to a baby's first year walks fathers through everything from taking a child's temperature to processing complicated emotions with their (exhausted) partners. Written by Marcus Jacob Goldman, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, the book efficiently addresses nuts-and-bolts concerns such as bathing, diapering, feeding, and child-proofing. These topics are the mainstay of the "what to expect" genre, but Goldman's manual is distinctive when focusing on Dad's own feelings and development during this exciting year. He is particularly smart about how to invite pals into a new, baby-centric life: "Teach them how to hold your baby," he advises. "Get them acquainted with your new life by involving them in it." If there is a flaw, it's that Goldman consistently assumes Mom is the primary caregiver, which will probably put off some full-time dads. On the other hand, the book abounds in personal testimonies, so most fathers are bound to find a voice that reminds them of their own. And with regular features like "What Is Your Baby's Day Like," which offers concrete, unbiased information that makes for fun reading, this book will be a valuable resource for new dads with lots of questions. --Kathi Inman Berens


Review
Month-by-Month Developments in Your Baby,
You, and Your Partner


Book Description
Month-by-Month Developments in Your Baby, Your Partner, and You
"This first-rate, father-friendly manual answers questions you didn't even know you should be asking!" — Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
The expanded edition of The Joy of Fatherhood is for today's dad, touching on timely and relevant subjects from pre-natal care through year one of being a dad. Whether detecting an infant's illnesses, assessing a baby's development, or learning appropriate ways of playing with the newest member of the family, author Marcus J. Goldman, M.D., takes a down-to-earth, month-by-month tour of the first year of daddy's new life. Written for dads by a dad, the author applies his fathering experience and medical knowledge to cover all of the basics—from changing a diaper to feeding your baby, from packing a diaper bag to choosing the right babysitter—and enlightens you on hundreds of subjects, including:
·Important physical, emotional, health, and developmental milestones for your baby
·Identifying the feelings often experienced by new dads, and ways to cope with them
·Maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner through your new experiences
·And much more!
Written to fit in the busy lives of new fathers, The Joy of Fatherhood is a concise, practical guide loaded with essential tips, in-depth analyses, and important checklists. Full of valuable information, refreshing humor, and priceless wisdom, it is sure to enhance the joys of fatherhood.

FROM THE PUBLISHER