Diaper Dude: The Ultimate Dad's Guide to Surviving the First Two Years

by Chris Pegula, Frank Meyer

Overview

Dude, you're a dad now!

Picking up where From Dude to Dad left off, author and founder of the popular Diaper Dude parenting brand Chris Pegula dives into the first two years of parenting and furthers his deeply held belief that you don't have to lose yourself when you become a father.

Once again written in Pegula's everyman voice and filled with humorous takes on fatherhood from the front lines, the book is an easy-to-read resource for new dads, combining hard-won lessons learned, pitfalls to avoid, and practical advice from a dude who hasn't lost his identity (or his sanity). 

Filled with useful information, hilarious stories of dad madness, a little psychology and science, and engaging sidebars, Diaper Dude covers everything from bonding, babyproofing, and when you'll have sex again to toddlerhood, tantrums, and tag-teaming with your partner to cover all the bases while staying (somewhat) sane.

**Winner, Family Choice Award!
**Winner, National Parenting Product Award!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101992616
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	95,625
File size:	759 KB

About the Author

Chris Pegula, actor-turned-father-turned-designer, is the creator of Diaper Dude, America’s most high-profile line of hip gear for cool dads. After the birth of the first of his three children, Pegula noticed that most diaper bags and accessories were designed with women’s sense of style in mind and created the Diaper Dude for dads. In addressing a simple need, Pegula revolutionized an industry. He has since has been featured on Rachael Ray, Ellen, The Nate Berkus Show, E! News, HGTV’s Gotta Have It!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and numerous other TV and radio spots. Since the launch of Diaper Dude, Chris has emerged as a lifestyle expert on all things family, parenting, and partner-related.

After penning rock n’ roll biographies on acts such as The Ramones, Van Halen and Phil Spector, Frank Meyer teamed up with Chris Pegula for 2014’s From Dude to Dad: The Diaper Dude Guide to Pregnancy. In addition to his writing career (Variety, LA Weekly, New Times), Meyer has a background as a Telly, Webby and W3 award winning digital content producer for Fender Guitars and G4tv, and has directed national TV commercials for the likes of NBC, Esquire Network, Sonic, Dyson, BMW, Subway, Little Caesars and Sonic.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Month-to-Month Guide xxiii

Chapter 1 The Arrival 1

The First Few Nights 3

Bringing Baby Home 9

Homeland Security 16

Going Back to Work 21

Vaccinations 25

Crying vs. Colic 28

The Postpartum Experience 33

Chapter 2 The First Few Months 39

Welcome to the Daddy Game 42

Introducing Baby to the World 45

Big Brothers and Sisters 47

Entering the Friend Zone 49

Baby's Best Friend 50

Sleep and the Lack Thereof 52

When the Poop Hits the Fan 56

Going on the Go 57

Cabin Fever 59

Complications: Jaundice, Reflux 63

Chapter 3 Your New Life 67

Bonding over Daily Tasks 70

Parenting Styles 72

Dudes 'n' Dads 79

Dad's Night In 81

Who's Watching the Baby? 82

iParent 86

Baby Gear 87

Old-School Fun 89

Chapter 4 Strength In Numbers 94

Discipline Starts with Yourself 97

Using Your Words 99

Fighting and Tension 101

Tantrum Tales 102

Chapter 5 First Steps 108

Houston, We Have a Walker 109

Get Some Class 115

Just a Little Patience… 117

Let's Talk About Sex 120

Vacations 126

Avoiding On-the-Road Rage 128

Daddy's Little Tax Credits 130

Chapter 6 Uncharted Waters 132

Respect the Bubble 133

Birthday Madness 137

Sugar Fix 140

Kids 'n' Sports 144

Chapter 7 Growing Up 149

The Terrible Twos (?) 151

Potty Training 153

Autism, Developmental Issues 156

Keeping Your Relationship Strong 161

The D-Word 163

Role Models 165

Epilogue 169

Acknowledgements 173

Resources 175

Notes 177

Index 179

About the Authors 187

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Chris Pegula's books:

“As a new dad, I needed all the info I could get my hands on. Chris breaks it down in a way that is easy to digest and use in my everyday parenting of my little girl."
—Carter Oosterhouse, celebrity host and DIY/design expert

“What happens when sperm meets egg, and dude becomes dad-to-be? Life as you know it changes forever—and you’re surprised to find, you wouldn’t have it any other way. From Dude to Dad tells it like it is, and like it will be, with humor, empathy, insight, and practical relatable advice on everything from easing your partner’s queasiness to handling hormones (hers and yours), sex and romance to birth plans and car seats.”
—Heidi Murkoff, What to Expect When You’re Expecting
 
“As a father of three and someone who has dedicated my life to healthy families, there is a moment of awakening (and panic!) that happens from the moment you find out you’re expecting. From practical information to sensitive considerations and humor, this book has it all for new dads!”
—Christopher Gavigan, founder of the Honest Company/Honest.com
 
“If you’re a dude going to be a dad, this book will make you laugh all the way to fatherhood.”
—Adam Cohen, DaDaRocks.com
 
“Whether you’re a guy or a gal expecting a baby, Chris Pegula has your back.”
—Parents.com
 
"I work with thousands of expecting dads every year. I always suggest Chris Pegula's books to enhance the journey and get some laughs along the way. A must read to unlock the secrets of just how crazy becoming a parent is and how to enjoy every minute of it."
—Brian W. Salmon CLC, RT

From the Publisher

01/01/2017
Despite their 50 percent DNA contribution, many dads feel completely out of sorts when their own children are born. Mom and baby feed, sleep, and coo to each other, but where does that leave dad? While the thematic literary contribution of fathers desiring involvement is often of a he-man, boom-boom nature, the market for dads wanting to know how to do best by their babies is undeniable. Toward that end, author Pegula (founder, Diaper Dude), with journalist Meyer, offers dads a desirably lean look at how to help, how to bond, and what milestones to look for. He incorporates his own story (and mishaps) into a readable and easy-to-implement text for other new fathers with a testosterone-flavored style: "I don't care what anybody says about their perfect baby. All babies cry." The typical day-to-day adventures, such as sleeping (or not), pooping (or not), and crying (likely) segue into more complicated scenarios, such as parenting styles, sex, and tax credits. VERDICT Recommended for all dudes, however silly their eponymous identity remains.

Library Journal