The Best Gifts To Give Expecting Dads
In the excitement of finding out about a pregnancy, mom and baby are usually at the spotlight, while dads are usually left in the background. In fact, according to raisingchildren.net.au, it’s pretty common for men to feel left out during pregnancy. However, this doesn’t mean that dads are not important– after all, they provide the necessary support system for mom as she goes into labour, and is an integral part of the family once baby is home (I’m talking about sharing the night-time duty for those sleepless nights!)
Whether you’re expecting and want to give a special gift to your significant other, or one of your loved ones is expecting his first child, this list will give you a great list of gift ideas for expecting dads. Spoiler alert: you can also get great funny gift ideas for expectant dads, and a lot of these are useful gifts for expecting dads as well!
What do new parents need?
The truth is, most of the things new parents need are exactly the items purchased for their newborn. These items are mostly advertised for the baby but let’s be honest here, most of these items were made to make parents’ life easier.
Here’s a list of items new parents may need and find useful as they venture into life with a baby:
- Pregnancy books
- Baby swing
- Diapers
- Formula or breastfeeding/pump supplies
- Car seat
- Lots of patience and love
Apart from all of these, there is this great post that talks about all the essentials you need for your new baby, that you should put in your baby registry.
What do first time dads need?
Now that we’ve tackled what new parents may need, let’s talk about first-time dad’s in particular. What do first-time dads really need?
For starters, first-time dads should do their best to learn and understand about the different stages of pregnancy labour and postpartum, as they will be the main support system for the new mom as she goes through pregnancy and postpartum.
Apart from getting ready mentally to support their pregnant wife, first time dads would definitely need coffee! Here are some other things first-time dads might need to make their lives with a newborn easer are:
- Gripe water – for colic
- Baby carrier – to carry baby when he/she gets fussy
- Diaper bag – useful for outings with baby
- Baby swing – to rock baby to sleep
- Car seat – absolutely necessary to bring baby home from the hospital
What do new parents need in the hospital?
Another question that comes up quite often is: what do new parents need in the hospital. Click here for to read a great post on what to pack in the hospital bag for mom, but for dads in particular, here’s a list of items to bring to the hospital:
- A change of clothes
- Comfortable shoes/socks/slippers (it might get chilly in the hospital)
- A blanket and pillows
- Food/snacks
- Cellphone and charger (to take videos and pictures and contact loved ones if needed)
- Wallet/proof of identification
- A strong stomach, good attitude and be the moral support your wife needs
What do you put in a care package for new parents?
If you are thinking of putting together a care package for new parents, here are our top picks:
- Coffee and coffee mug
- Meal subscription service
- Daddy and me/mommy and me baby book
Best Gift Ideas For Dad
Now we’ve gotten to the good part! Here’s a round up of the best gift ideas for dad. A lot of these items can be purchased before baby arrives, or alternatively, there are also many gift ideas that can be purchased after baby’s arrival as well. These gift ideas are great to get for the baby shower as well! Alternatively, if you are looking for a father’s day gift for the new dad or expecting dad, many of the personalized gift ideas in this list would be great gifts.
Pregnancy book (made specifically for dad)
If you are looking for a book for a new dad, this should be first on your list, most especially if the happy couple are earlier on in their pregnancies. Written by Adrian Kulp, this is straightforward and is an easy to digest read for new dads that combines humour with real and relevant information that the new parent will need. This is a great father to be gift from amazon.
New Dad gift package
What better way to let the future dad know that you share in their excitement than a new dad care package? If you are considering giving a care package, you can either put one together by yourself so that it’s completely customized, or you can go the easy route and source a completed box from Etsy! There are plenty of awesome expectant father gift packages available on Etsy, but we thought this is a cool one to give the dad-to-be.
New dad mug
We love Etsy around here for all things personalized! A standard gift to give the new dad is a coffee mug, but why not go the extra mile and customize it with the year the baby will be born?
Skincare set
Who ever said skincare is just for women are so last century. This is such a useful gift for the expecting dad. These days, men also care about their skin (sometimes, more so than their female counterparts!) New dads will definitely be losing sleep with a newborn in tow, so they will definitely need the self care products to keep up with their skin. This one from Clinique is our pick for its simplicity – I mean, it can’t get any simpler than face wash, shaving cream and moisturizer. Because we all know that most men won’t bother with a 10 step skin care routine, am I right?
Sleep mask and ear plugs
This product will be so helpful once the new dad goes back to work after baby’s arrival. Of course, we think dads should have their fair share of taking care of the baby, but for the nights when dad really needs his sleep, this is a great gift. This wrap around sleep mask from Amazon is soft, doesn’t mark your face and is effective at blocking out all the light. The mask is fully adjustable and doesn’t put pressure on your ears when wearing it. Plus, it comes with ear plugs that you can then secure in with the wrap-around design!
Pajama pants (for lounging)
For the first few weeks or months of baby’s life, you might find that rather than have a date night out, you will opt to stay in. This means that a comfortable set of pants to lounge around in will be essential for you and the new dad. This set of pajama pants is made of flannel, is soft, warm and comfortable.
Indoor slippers
If you live in cold climate, this will be a great gift for the new dad-to-be. This pair of slippers has memory foam which provides ultra comfort for lounging around the house. It’s also made of good quality rubber sole which means it can be useful for wearing indoors and outdoors. It’s also very warm which makes it the perfect thing to wear around the home during the winter season.
Nespresso machine
Here’s another useful gift for the expecting dad. If coffee was life before having a baby, now with a baby it’s even more important. That’s why we thought a gift guide for expecting dads won’t be complete without adding a Nespresso machine to the mix. It’s easy and simple, perfect for those sleep deprived mornings.
Travel coffee mug
We love this gift idea! Going with the idea that dads have little to no sleep with a newborn, coffee and a coffee mugs obviously go hand in hand in helping a new dad out. This 12 ounce travel mug from Hydroflask is great at keeping hot or cold beverages at the right temperature without the risk of spilling all over yourself or the car when drinking on the go. Plus, it’s BPA and Phthalate-free. The cup handle is just an added bonus!
Babywearing hoodie
This babywearing hoodie is a thoughtful gift idea for the future dad in your life. It has a zip-off pouch that fits over a baby carrier which will allow the future dad to wear his baby outside without getting both baby and dad cold. It’s made of soft, fleece finish which makes it more comfortable to wear. The great thing about this sweater is that the insert comes off to become a regular sweater when you don’t need to wear baby.
Daddy and me books
Baby books are a favourite gift to new parents, but most baby books are centred around mommy and baby. If you’re looking to give a gift that’s out of the ordinary, why not give a daddy and me book to the expecting parents? The future dad will surely appreciate it.
Personalized baby book
Moving along with the same theme of giving ‘daddy and me’ books to the new dad to be, why not go a step further and give a personalized book for a truly memorable gift?
Star map
If you’d like to give a more sentimental gift, why not get a print out of the star map of the day that the new baby was born? The new dad can frame it on the wall of the nursery!
Birth Poster
We absolutely love this idea! Getting a 1:1 illustration of your baby is not only aesthetically pleasing to frame in the nursery but can also be a great keepsake when the baby is older to show her exactly how big she/he was when they were born.
Personalized keychain
If you are looking for something personalized but a bit more subtle, there are plenty of unique keychain ideas on Etsy that can be personalized for the dad-to-be. This can also be given for father’s day for any dad in general! This one made of wook is our pick for its simplicity and clean look.
Personalized necklace
This is the perfect gift if the gift recipient is keen on wearing accessories/jewelry. There are plenty of dog-tag options out there, but we though a necklace with washers that are engraved with the kid’s name and birthdate is so much more original! This would be such a cool gift for mechanic dads!
Related Post: The Ultimate Baby Registry Essentials Minimalist Edition | 14 Items You Absolutely Need in Your Baby Registry
Dad and baby matching outfit
This one is sure to be a hit! If you are looking for funny gifts for expectant dads, this is it! Daddy and me matching outfits are always appreciated by expecting parents because they’re cute, and the enamoured parent can match with their newborn! We love this one that has references to The Office! If your guy loves The Office, this would be the most fun gift.
Baby carrier
This BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini is a great gift to give to an expecting dad that’s on the go. We love this carrier because it’s lightweight and easy to use, which is especially great with newborn babies. It’s great for on-the-go without the extra bulk. Babies love to be carried and this will allow baby and daddy to enjoy outings without baby getting fussy.
Baby Monitor
A baby monitor is a high-ticket gift, but one that will be so appreciated by the expecting parents. If you are thinking of gifting a baby monitor, the Nanit Pro is a great option. Some of the features we love about the Nanit Pro are:
- Small breathing band
- HD Camera
- Night Vision
- Two Way Communication
- Temperature and humidity
- Baby Sleep stats
- Automatically takes pictures of baby for your memories
The great thing about this is that you can purchase this awesome father to be gift from amazon!
Smart Watch
Not necessarily related to being a new dad, but if you are thinking of giving a versatile gift that will for sure be appreciated, this is it! The Apple Watch Series 7 is beautifully designed and sleek, and will be appreciated as a gift by anyone! Some of the great features of the apple watch that we love are:
- More crack-resistant vs previous versions
- Measure blood oxygen level and take ECG
- Retina display
- Monitor heart rate
- Pay with apple pay
- Send messages and accept calls
Trackable Wallet
The Ekster smart wallet is is a great gift not just for new dads, but for all dads out there! It’s high quality craftmanship and leather material make it such an exquisite gift for both men and women. What better gift for a new dad that’s probably sleep deprived and has a lot on his mind than a wallet that can easily be tracked in case it’s ever misplaced. Not only is it trackable, it also uses RFID blocking technology to protect your personal information.
Phone Charger
Last but not least, a phone charger is a great gift to give to an expecting dad so that he’ll never run out of battery on his phone when he needs it the most.