Commando Dad: Basic Training: How to be an Elite Dad or Carer from Birth to Three Years

by Neil Sinclair

An indispensable training manual for new recruits to fatherhood

Attention! Written by an ex-Commando and dad of three, this manual provides clear and logical advice on all the practicalities of becoming a new father and simple, helpful instruction for all obstacles along the way. It will teach prospective fathers, in no-nonsense terms, how to survive the first 24 hours; how to Prepare and Plan to Prevent Poor Parental Performance; how to maintain morale in the ranks; how to feed, clothe, transport, and entertain your troops; how to transport the troops successfully on maneuvers; how to increase your "flash to bang" time and "square away" tasks along the way; and much more. Let training commence. 

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, Self Help

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Thibault Jacquot-Paratte · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are planing on having a few kids, I think buying this book is worth it. I borrowed it from the library, and am considering buying it just because it's quite handy.

It's straight to the point. You don't get lost in useless text and reflections. No "comedic" side stories, or anything that will make you lose time.

It doesn't pretend to be more than it is. it is a very direct "If you do this, everything should go well" manual. It doesn't pretend to have a philosophical intrigue that will unleash the parenting instinct within you. It's clear "you do this, everything ends up ok".

A lot of it comes down to common sense - the book is very honest about that. A lot also comes from the experience of someone who knows kids. It offers great guidelines, and helps to structure one's way of doing things. Especially during a perhaps stressful period, it offers clear, direct guidelines.

It's also pretty funny. It's all written in kind of "prentend-military" jargon, which just makes it more fun reading.

Overall, it's instructive, simple, efficient, and funny.

[Greg Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant dip in and dip out of book that's the perfect size to put in a pocket or backpack for refreshing when you feel like you haven't a clue what you are doing!
Thick pages and rounded corners to aid in its longevity.

[Alex Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, no nonsense how-to book and guide for children. The military aspect is a touch over-done, but it doesn't detract from the content. The book could explain recommendations in more detail (e.g. co-sleeping is presented as a flat 'don't'), but otherwise it keeps to the essentials.

[Ben Philcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful advice for a very nervous parent to be!

[Rykon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Коротко и по делу.
Надо было, конечно, прочитать, когда сыну был месяц, а не год, но и сейчас выписал себе пару толковых советов:)

[Ben Hamnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proper no-nonsense advice for Dads-to-be! This isn't a story book, there's no anecdotes, funny asides or philosophical musings about the nature of existence, what it's like to be a father (spoiler, it's great) or any of that. When we were expecting I got given a more "fluffy" book with all of the above, got about halfway through it and binned it.

This little gem, however, has been more useful than anything else - it's full of practical advice and goes into detail about the things that matter, like nappy changing - I had no idea, and with covid taking away stuff like antenatal classes this was a lifesaver. My wife is still the absolute font of knowledge of course, but Commando Dad has been extremely useful to give me the appearance of someone who knows what he's doing!

[Michal Mironov · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I really enjoyed the completely inappropriate use of military terms for baby stuff (toddler = baby trooper). But when I got used to this jargon, the book too often reminded me of a boring inventory. I know that bullet points are an excellent format for a pocket handbook. But the author should not forget that with good storytelling and examples, the reader will remember much more. In any case, I’m grateful for a bunch of good tips (Earplugs! Protects your hearing from the howitzer blast as well as children's roar!)

[Nathan De · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical and sometimes funny military-style pocket book for future dads that want to better prepare for fatherhood. The book covers all the practical with military precision and I agree that a good preparation is key. This is maybe good enough for basic training, but I do think this is a bit shortsighted. The book does not adequately cover or reference the also crucial emotional and developmental aspects of child-rearing and how to deal with those. The only chapter on emotions talks about the morale of the father and how to keep it up.

[Tim Corke · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of many parenting books focussed on Dad, Commando Dad is an easy to read and entertaining advice manual with a dose of military order and preparedness thrown in. There's lots of great tips and helpful comments but I found it a little lacking; both in terms of specific assurance and support and secondly whether this was a general manual to keep hold of during your child's early years, or whether it was a pick up and read in one go.

[Shaun Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commando Dad: Basic Training: How to Be an Elite Dad or Carer from Birth to Three Years is an entertaining and informative manual for new Dads. Covering aspects such as feeding, going out and entertaining the troops the book is filled with good advice without getting too bogged down. I found the sections on how to survive the first 24 hours and how to pack a bag for taking the baby out particularly useful.

There is also a website with a bunch of videos and further advice which is very helpful for neophyte parents amongst us and I expect to refer back to that and the book several times before I get this whole parenting thing down.

Informative without being preachy and entertaining without being laugh-out-loud funny Commando Dad does exactly what it says on the tin; provides good advice for those of us who have no idea what we're doing.

[baru_smisek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dohánění restů...

Pro základní přehled docela fajn příručka psaná neotřelým stylem (který mi ale v druhé polovině už šel trochu na nervy) a primárně pro otce, ale jistě jsem nebyla první čtenářka-žena.

Nezachází příliš do podrobností, ale představuje spíše přehled situací od přípravy na příchod novorozence do cca tři let věku dítěte. Hodně povzbuzuje. K něčemu mám své výhrady, ale pro nějakou inspiraci se možná vrátím.

[Joe Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good guide aimed especially at first time dad's. Written in a clear and to the point military style from simple how to's, planning schedules, and clear discussions of contested topics, I found it most useful - I still do, it's very easy to pick up when your baby reaches a new milestone or age.

[Mascha Eleonora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu ben ik een echte commado papa…. Eh.. mama.

Nu moet ik zeggen dat ik door mijn werk in de kinderopvang echt al een hele hoop wist. Er was een hoop herkenning. Maar dat was wel prettig. Herkenning bij een boek over opvoeden, als je in de kinderopvang werkt is wat mij betreft postief!

Heb ik veel geleerd? Nee. Maar was het alsnog een fijn naslagwerk? Ja

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's corny (refers to kids as troops, random military terms) and I have some philosophical qualms with it (too reward heavy, too praise focused - maybe it's just an American way).

Nonetheless, it is practical and gives good structure on things to think about.

[Pranava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful practical info for dads, aaand moms, new to handling a baby trooper! Most parenting books can be intimidating. This one is small in size yet filled with info. The heavy use of bullet points makes it a quick easy guide to basics.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great handbook, especially for first-time Dads. It is well set out and useful for reference. For those who already have children, some of it may seem basic but there are still things to learn. Worth a read and recommended to new dads.

[Kaido · Rating 3 out of 5]

First part wher was described how to prepare and how to handle first 24 hours were very good bu later like diagnostic of illness and child psychology -- there are a much more better books.

[Alexandru · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and funny book for future dads. Quite useful and at the point.

[Sela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, practical hands-on book. The commando references get old after about 1.6 pages but it is a good eyecatcher to start reading.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether this is actually useful, we'll find out in Dec, but there's certainly some great starting points for dad's (and mum's) to be.

[Manolo González · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s funny to read a parenting book with military slang, the book is rather basic but definitely unique.

[Anneke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little book with practical, to the point advice for parents with babies and young kids

[Alex Legge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still have this in my sons room and use it for reference on occasion

[Freya Inston · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband read this book, and after me moaning that all the baby books I had read were really preaching and too much, he told me to give this a go instead. It’s an easy read, simple and packed with useful tips. Definitely a good intro for any new soon to be parents, for both mum & dad.

[Pana Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite useful. Procedures. It's more like You can do it! With some how to.

[Mise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like a lot of padding for a very basic book where the military schtick cannot carry the threadbare advice.

Not useless information but the sort of person that buys the book will likely know everything in the book.

Feels like an AskReddit comment that got turned into an ebook

[Sunjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely practical, wonderfully written, brilliant book.

[Tim Caines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read.

[James Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute genius. No nonsense basics for early fatherhood. Great foundational knowledge and anti anxiety info

100% recommend for expecting rents

[Peter Kelk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gave me some great ideas for preparing for my son's life.