Food, gifts, guys — and life advice for the new parents

By JD Lasica
BabyCenter managing editor

When our friend Catherine called and offered to host a baby shower, my six-months-pregnant wife knew me well enough to say, “JD will want to be a part of this, too.”

‘Twasn’t always so. Not long ago, baby showers were still deemed off-limits to men. The custom, after all, grew out of an era when midwives delivered most babies and women formed close bonds during the birthing process. Men at traditional baby showers? No, thank you, not with the field reports we got from the front lines suggesting rituals and practices that were, frankly, a little scary.

But times are changing — and so are baby showers. [Read more…] about Couples baby showers come of age

By JD Lasica
BabyCenter managing editor

Some expectant fathers, unfortunately, start getting interested in their babies around the time their wives say, “Loving husband, it’s time to proceed to the hospital.” By then, it’s a little late to whip out the how-to manual.

My friends, spare yourself some messy surprises. Accompany your wife to a childbirth education class. Almost all birth hospitals hold sessions, and parents are usually given the option of attending two or three short evening sessions or one long daytime session. For me, the class was an eye-opener. [Read more…] about Dad’s cheat sheet for childbirth class