We don’t expect women to know everything to expect when it comes to having babies, so why should men be any different? The only problem is there just aren’t enough dad-specific tools out there, or at least ones that dads would actually take a look at before using as a coaster.

But Armin Brott, the creator of the popular Mr. Dad series of books and now this DVD, has taken everything dads might want to know about being a new dad and put it together in a handy and entertaining DVD.

Our parents loved his book for Dads of School Aged Children, so we were curious to see how our bloggers (both moms and dads) reacted to this Toolbox for New Dads DVD.  Would your husband actually watch this? If you’re a dad, would you recommend this to one of your friends?

Based on the reviews, I think so.

Similar to the book, the bloggers (and their spouses) appreciated Brott’s approach, described by one blogger as “engaging and reassuring.” “According to Jeff, Armin presents the information in an accessible manner. Jeff calls him a ‘guy’s guy who isn’t too cheesy, given the subject matter’. I found the presentation to be fun and easy to digest in a quick viewing.”

The bloggers were impressed that Brott included a section for dads on babywearing, which many dads might feel awkward or uncomfortable doing. “Some things we liked? Babywearing dads were shown in photographs throughout the video. At one point, fathers were encouraged to put their baby in a “front pack.” As you know, our family is big on babywearing so any positive mention of it, especially for the dad set, gets good marks in our collective parenting book.”

The reviewers almost consistently mentioned the section on anger management and frustration, something that is almost never covered in prenatal/new parent books. “What I really liked about this was that not only did he discuss basic child care subjects like bathing, feeding, diapering, burping, etc, but he also talked about topics that are usually not covered.”"Armin also touches on some of the realities of parenting that are often overlooked, like the frustation and bad thoughts we all have from time to time…”   Another mom added the following: “Brott speaks to the reality of being so angry at your child, due to excessive crying, that you’d toss your baby under the steamroller just to get them to STOP.  He validates the feelings, and gives many techniques to calm yourself and your baby down. ”

One dad blogger was won over by Brott.

This DVD—Brott’s workshop for expectant dads, the information and the way he presents it, the questions, concerns, and fears expressed by the dads-to-be—this is the stuff we always say we wish someone had talked with us about beforehand, this is the “for-dads-by-dads” kind of information gleaned from hard experience we always say that nobody shared with us but that we make a point of sharing with any new dad we happen to know, because we’ve been there. 

Bloggers mentioned parts they would have liked to have seen addressed in more depth, including formula feeding for moms who had difficulty breastfeeding. That being said, “Brott is surprisingly AP-friendly (you guys know I’m decidedly un-crunch), and does a great job of instructing men on how to support their partner in breastfeeding even when they’re having a rough go at it. ”

A few bloggers (and their spouses) weren’t huge fans of the classroom setting within the DVD but one saw the value in it for dads who weren’t able to attend or afford a birth class. “Watching a class on video is a rather dry way to learn things. That said, for fathers who are unable to attend a parenting class (schedule conflicts or a pregnant mother who is confined to bed rest), this might be a truly valid option. It also might be cost-effective in some areas. And, for those who are shy and quiet and don’t particularly like to speak up or even be in a classroom setting, this might be a more comfortable way to learn things about babies. Keep that in mind.”

And, a few bloggers felt the DVD covered topics that never even got touched on in their birthing class. “The best part of the DVD, though is a section called Life with a Baby. Ooh, this is a goody! This is something the classes we took didn’t touch.” A dad added that it’s not just for dads; it’s great for moms as well. “Expectant or new moms may learn some things about what her man may be feeling before and after the arrival of the baby. Moms may learn to allow dads to be more participatory fathers, which is not only great for the future relationship that dad has with his child, but also great for dad’s relationship with mom. ”

The DVD definitely covered the basics and is a great alternative. “As Jeff pointed out, this is a great tool for new dads who don’t have the time or inclination to read a book about parenting because it does hit many of the major issues.” Another dad, whose spouse (the reviewer) who actually preferred Brotts books over the DVD agreed: “He said that it is great to watch a DVD. It doesn’t require as much time or attention as a book (to digest the information). He recommends watching it in five to ten minute chunks over the course of a week. ”

Plus, it’s nice hearing all this stuff from a dad and not a 69 year old retired nurse (at least that was the case in my experience). I’m pretty sure my husband would have listened more attentively.

One blogger shared her spouse’s thoughts about the Toolbox: ”Overall, he believes that he would have purchased the DVD pre-Rosco to get a heads-up on what to expect.  He’s not much of a reader outside of periodicals, so this is the perfect format for guys like him.” This dad added, “As someone who ran to the internet looking for this kind of communication and community, I know that this DVD, and what it represents, is a valuable thing for new dads to have available.”

Our last dad summed it up well:

This DVD has a wealth of information that I nodded my head about and heartily agreed with. It was full of things that I had to learn on my own, which, with a baby, is something akin to walking through a minefield, hoping that you won’t lose your legs in the process. Expectant dads will find this DVD to be an excellent resource.

What more convincing to you need? For all the finer points, I suggest you check out all the reviews — in particular, our two resident dad bloggers Jason and Gunfighter.

We say stick a copy in your friend or relative’s shower gift. If you’re a dad, hand it to a friend with a cigar of congratulations. From what we can tell, the dads will be thanking you. Plus, they’ll have something helpful to watch when they’re on late night daddy duty.