Commando Dad Raw Recruitsis a must-have manual for all dads-to-be. It demystifies pregnancy and childbirth; provides the essential back-up information men need to support their partners and prepares them for the radical changes to their life that a new BT (baby trooper) will inevitably bring. It is packed with straightforward advice, guidance, clear diagrams, advice and tips.
This accessible guide is loosely based on the British Army's Basic Battle Skills - and has a light-hearted military flavour throughout. With Commando Dad's rules and specially adapted military phrases such 'deployment date' (due date); 'BT' (baby trooper); 'CO' (Commanding Officer - the person in charge - or, in this context, the mum-to-be), 'Deployment Kit List' (the essential kit needed for the birth) and 'Sensory Overload' (used to explain the situation when you get so overwhelmed with new information being thrown at you that it impacts your ability to act effectively) - this a fun but ultimately useful book for every man about to embark on his greatest ever fatherhood.
I got this book for my boyfriend, as he's in the military himself and I just felt that all the books about fatherhood we're like: "Oh, shit you're a dad! RUN!" and he's just really excited to one day BE a dad, so why be like that? This book isn't like this at ALL. I'm so happy I read this, and I actually learned a lot from this book. It isn't all macho, it also talks about all the emotions you will experience as a dad, which is great. It takes things serious, but makes it in a way that it's just fun. I can't wait to get the other books in this series, because they are fun, informative, a really quick read, but they take this seriously and are PROUD to be dads instead of all the "Oh no help!" books. I totally recommend it, even if you aren't in the military! ;)
Not that I need a parenting book to be militarised for me to want to read it, but it was gifted to me and I read it cover to cover, even though my - at the time - unborn baby wouldn’t be encountering these issues for many years. I still dip into the book from time to time seeing if there are any tips I may have forgotten that I could use now that he’s (for example) 8 months old.