When the moment arrives, all might go according to the plan. Circumstances could also trash the plan utterly. Woods says that in his experience, having attended the birth of several hundred babies, it's usually the latter. With so many parenting books to choose from it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s some things to take into account when making your choice: In addition to covering the basics of infant care, The New Dad’s Survival Guide offers insights on navigating the various stages of your child’s growth and development. From introducing solid foods to managing teething and crawling, this book prepares new dads for the milestones and transitions that lie ahead. During the 20th week of pregnancy, an ultrasound exam is normally done. This is when many parents get a first glimpse of the baby and take home a sonogram snapshot for the baby's album. Sometimes ultrasound is used earlier in pregnancy to screen for birth defects or if a doctor suspects a problem. Ultrasound at 20 weeks can also reveal the baby's sex. You may choose to find out what it is or wait to be surprised. The Grand Finale

What are your preferences?: It's always a good idea to know what sort of parenting tips you don't want - i.e., if you are against sleep training, don't go for an author known to advocate controlled crying. Expectant Dad's Survival Guide is excellent. Properly researched and not patronising sexist crap. Lots of advice on how to support your partner in labour."(Vetted by Mumsnet user ammature) Our verdict

9. Best parenting book for dads: The Expectant Dad's Survival Guide by Rob Kemp

The book begins with an overview of the pregnancy journey, explaining the stages of fetal development and the changes that both mother and baby undergo. It also offers tips on supporting your partner during pregnancy, attending prenatal appointments, and preparing for the arrival of your little one. Full of reassuring advice, Your Baby Week by Week tells you what to expect before it happens so you needn't be unnecessarily alarmed. Written by paediatrician Dr Caroline Fertleman and health writer Simone Cave, it covers all the basics like sleep, feeding, washing, crying, play and development, as well as other topics including vaccinations and colic.

Once the baby arrives, The New Dad’s Survival Guide dives into the practical aspects of caring for a newborn. Mactavish covers topics like mastering the art of diaper changing, swaddling techniques, and soothing a crying baby. He also discusses important safety concerns, such as safe sleep practices and car seat installation. Area of focus: Are you looking for one book that covers everything from pregnancy to teenagers, or are you happy to read a book focused on a specific stage such as communication, potty training, starting school, growing up? This book acts as a friendly guide to teach any first time dad the basics. It takes you through the the stages of pregnancy from when you first discover the pregnancy, to the scans, birth and taking the baby home.Ease of reading: Look for books that have short chapters, easy to read formatting or bitesized chunks of information. These are much easier to dip in and out of as you wish and make some of the more overwhelming information easier to digest. A non-preachy, approachable tone is always a winner in our eyes too. Parenting is hard enough without being preached at, right?! You read the pregnancy books, the nine months flew by without a hitch, the birth was brilliant and your healthy baby arrived on schedule. Job done, right? Often, the birth of your baby can feel like the end of the journey but really the adventure has only just begun. If you look down at you-junior, heart swelling with pride, then think 'What now?', this book is for you.