The Daddy Guide : Real-Life Advice and Tips from over 250 Dads and Other Experts

653 Pages·1998·1.54 MB·English

by  Kevin Nelson

The Daddy Guide : Real-life Advice and
title: Tips From Over 250 Dads and Other
Experts
author: Nelson, Kevin.
publisher: NTC Contemporary
isbn10 | asin: 0809229633
print isbn13: 9780809229635
ebook isbn13: 9780071404594
language: English
Fatherhood--United States, Parenting--
subject United States, Child rearing--United States,
Marriage--United States.
publication date: 1998
lcc: HQ756.N45 1998eb
ddc: 649/.1
Fatherhood--United States, Parenting--
subject: United States, Child rearing--United States,
Marriage--United States.
Page i
The Daddy Guide
Real-Life Advice and Tips from over 250 Dads and Other
Experts
Kevin Nelson
CONTEMPORARY BOOKS
Page ii
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nelson, Kevin, 1953
The daddy guide: real-
life advice and tips from over 250 dads and other experts
A to Z / Kevin Nelson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8092-2963-3
1. FatherhoodUnited States. 2. ParentingUnited States. 3. Child rearing
United States. 4. MarriageUnited States. I. Title.
HQ756.N45 1998
649'.1dc21 97-47047
CIP
Cover design by Jeanette Wojtyla
Cover and interior illustration copyright © Laura Jane Coats
Interior design by Nancy Freeborn
Published by Contemporary Books
An imprint of NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
4255 West Touhy Avenue, Lincolnwood (Chicago), Illinois 60646-
1975 U.S.A.
Copyright © 1998 by Kevin Nelson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
the prior permission of NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
International Standard Book Number: 0-8092-2963-3
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Page iii
For my daughters, Leah and Annie,
and my father, Delmar Nelson
Page v
Contents
Preface ix
Advice and Inspiration 1
The Greatest Job You'll Ever Have · Coping Skills ·
Advice from an Elder · Ignore the Media: You Can Do It
Becoming a Father 12
What We Fear as Fathers · Being a Dad in a Mom's
World · Another Tool for Dads: The Net · Web Sites for
Fathers and Families
Birth Coach 21
Why You Should Be a Birth Coach: A Nurse's View ·
How to Be a Great Labor Coach · Cutting the Cord: A
Man's Prerogative · What to Bring to the Hospital
Cars 30
Now That I Have a Bigger Family, Do I Need a Bigger
Car? · Sports-Utes: Choice of the Rugged, Macho
Family Man · Minivans: A More Practical Alternative? ·
Station Wagons · Children and Car Seats · Children and
Air Bags · More Car Resources
Child Care and Preschools 39
Men and Child Care · Use Those Analytical Skills:
Questions to Ask When Assessing Child Care · Child-
Care Centers · Family Child Care · Nannies · How to
Find Child Care · Preschools
Clubs and Outdoor Activities 52
Bicycling: A Part of Growing Up · Canoeing: A Passion
for Traveling on Water · Camping: Start Simply and
Progress from There · Selling the Experience of Fishing
· Hiking: Creating a Love of Nature · Youth
Organizations and Clubs · More Activities for You and
Your Child
Cooking and Food 65
Fundamentals of Good Cooking · How Not to Be
Intimidated in the Kitchen · Cooking Resources · Dining
Out with Baby and Other Food Topics · Cooking with
Children: Do You Dare?
Page vi
Diapers and Other Manly Chores 76
Changing Diapers and Other Household Issues ·
Diapering Tips · Housework: Doing a Good, Clean,
Fast Job · Schlepping the Baby: Problems and
Solutions
Discipline 88
The Key to Discipline: Remembering Your Own
Childhood · Do Babies Manipulate? · Ten Reasons Not
to Spank a Child · Tips on Handling Toddlers · The
TOUGHLOVE Approach
Growing a Child: What Fathers can do 100
Being Involved: Good for Baby, Good for You · A
Child Needs Dad in the Tender Years, Too · Connecting
with Your Child · Let Your Child Take the Lead:
Techniques for Play · Open Your Mouth and Sing ·
Becoming a Better Listener
Healthy and Safe Baby 113
A Thumbnail Guide to Infant Health · Immunization
Guidelines · How to Get a Good Night's Sleep ·
Circumcision: One Physician's View · Circumcision:
Another Physician's View · Kidproofing and Baby
Products · A Safe Crib Is a Good Crib · Health Care
Resources
Household and Family Emergencies 129
Infant CPR · Burn Prevention Measures · What to Keep
in Your First-Aid Kit · Fire Prevention Checklist ·
Preparing for a Disaster
Job, Career, and Family 136
How to Be a Responsible Father · Working Nights and
Weekends · Don't Bring It Home with You · Real-
World Strategies for Fathers Who Want to Take Time
Off When Their Baby Is Born · The Daddy Track and
Other Hard Realities · Changing Jobs When You Have
a Family · Downsizing Your Lifestyle: Pluses and
Minuses · Running a Small Business and Being a New
Dad · Working at Home
Life Insurance 153
Now That I Have a Child, Do I Need Life Insurance? ·
Term or Whole Life? · Finding the Right Agent
Love and Sex 159
Maintaining Connections with Your Partner and Child ·
Being on the "Same Team" with Your Spouse · Sex and
the New Father · Tips on Having a Healthy Sex Life
Miscellany 170
Naming Your Child · Eight Reasons to Celebrate Your
Child's Birth with a Cigar · Coping with In-Laws ·
Raising Twins · When to Have Another Child and What
to Expect If You Do
Money 181
How to Get Out of Debt and Stay There · Taking Care
of the Nickels · Creating a Stress-Free Family Budget ·
Marde's Money Advice · Finding Out Where You Stand
· A Few Words About Retirement · Teaching Kids
About Money
Owning a Home 196
The Difference Between a House and a Home · Family
and Home · Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy
· Home Buying Resources · Owning a Home: A Matter
of Values