There are hundreds of books for the prospective mother. But what about the prospective father? Now this handy-sized, indispensable new volume appears, solving all problems from the moment the Great News is flashed (with directions as to the proper reaction) to the day Daddy's Sweetheart takes his first step.
Here are personally tested artful dodges, ploys, squeeze plays that will fool everyone (except maybe Baby). Every possible situation is covered: how to provide comic relief while hanging around the hospital; how to face your first view of the little monster; choosing a name; announcements and presents; relation, rich and otherwise (including the means of getting rid of a meddlesome grandmother); avoiding the 4:00 A.M. feeding; how to size up another baby's social background by the cut of his perambulator; showing your baby's pictures and at the same time avoiding having to look at someone else's snapshots of his–all these and many other helpful hints.
Particularly valuable is the definitive chapter on the diaper, its disposal and its application. Being a modern father, Mr. Gilbreth gives short shrift to the outmoded baseball diamond or triangular fold and explains the new football field yardline folding technique. He is, however, opposed to the newer "bubble" as opposed to "burp". As he remarks, "How would you feel is someone said to you, 'Your baby has just bubbled' "?
Both the author and James J. Spanfeller, the artist who has done the delightful full-page line drawings, are themselves new fathers. They learned the hard way; all you have to do is read the book. That is, if you can get away from your wife long enough.