# Preparing together

**How should we prepare for a baby together?**

Whether you will get ready for parenthood as a couple, from nothing formal to books, a class, or counseling, and what that preparation looks like.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Nothing formal; Books and question lists; A workshop or couples group; Counseling. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: How we decide together
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/how-we-decide-together--preparing-together

## Preparing together: what are the options?

1. **Nothing formal**: You do not do any formal preparation as a couple.
2. **Books and question lists**: You read books or work through lists of questions together.
3. **A workshop or couples group**: You take a class or join a group for expecting couples.
4. **Counseling**: You see a counselor together before or after the baby arrives.

## Preparing together: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

Structured programs show benefits in small trials

Sources:

- [CEBC on Family Foundations](https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/family-foundations/)

## What else is worth knowing?

Having a baby changes a relationship, and couples who prepare together tend to handle the change better. Preparation can be as light as reading the same book or as structured as a class or counseling. The point is to do some of the thinking before you are exhausted.

## Questions to ask each other

- What would make us feel more ready: a class, a book, talking to other parents, counseling?
- What is one question about becoming parents we have not yet asked each other?
- How would we know if we needed more support before or after the baby?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=how-we-decide-together&topic=how-we-decide-together--preparing-together