Gift Ideas for a First-Time Dad
Twelve gifts for a first-time dad, from a carrier he will actually wear to recorded advice from his own father, and how to mark his first Father's Day.
A first-time dad gets a lot of jokes about diapers and very few gifts. Most of the attention goes to the baby and the new mom, and he tends to stand at the edge of the photo holding the car seat. The best gift for a first-time dad helps him feel capable and marks the fact that his life just changed too. Our top pick is a song about the day he became a dad, because it gives him a moment of his own in the middle of the chaos.
Hear a song made for a new dad
This one was made for another family. Yours would carry his name and your stories.
12 gift ideas for a first-time dad
- A song about the day he became a dad ($39.90). Share how he reacted to the news, what he said at the hospital and the baby's name, and Songbond turns it into an original song. He can play it on the drive to work in the first bleary weeks.
- A baby carrier he will actually wear. Pick one that fits a bigger frame and comes in a plain color. Usually $50 to $180.
- A diaper backpack that does not look like one. Lots of pockets, a changing pad inside and nothing pastel. Usually $50 to $150.
- Better coffee for early mornings. A good grinder or a simple coffee maker and a bag of beans. Usually $50 to $200.
- A journal of letters to his child. One page for each birthday, to write now and hand over when the child turns eighteen. Usually $20 to $40.
- A framed first photo for his desk. The first picture of him holding the baby, in a sturdy frame. Usually $25 to $60.
- An engraved wallet. The baby's name and birth date inside, with a slot for a small photo. Usually $40 to $100.
- A hand and footprint kit, made together. He presses the baby's hand next to his own and frames them side by side. Usually $20 to $40.
- Matching dad-and-baby shirts. A little silly, which is the point. They make good photos. Usually $25 to $50.
- A funny, honest book for new dads. Short chapters he can read in five minutes between feeds. Usually $15 to $25.
- A few hours off. A round of golf, a game with friends or a long bike ride while someone else holds the baby. Free, and more welcome than he will admit.
- Advice from the dads in his family. Ask his father, grandfather or uncles to record a short message of what they learned in their first year. It becomes a family keepsake.
How to choose for a first-time dad
Think about how he likes to show love. Some dads want to be hands-on from day one. Others love a good gadget or a project. And some are quietly overwhelmed and need to hear that they are doing fine.
- If he is hands-on: the carrier, the backpack or the footprint kit.
- If he loves gear: the coffee setup or the engraved wallet.
- If he is quietly emotional: the song, the journal of letters or the advice from his family.
His first Father's Day
A first Father's Day often arrives when the baby is only weeks or months old, and it is easy to let it slide in the tiredness. Do not. Give the gift from the baby, with a card written in the baby's voice and a tiny footprint as the signature. Take a photo of him holding the baby that morning and do the same every Father's Day after. In twenty years he will have a row of photos that tell the whole story.
Make a song for the new dad
Create a song for a first-time dad and his baby. Share the story, and the song is ready within 24 hours. If you need it tomorrow morning, express delivery gets it to you in about an hour.
Also in the Journal: songs for a new dad and songs about becoming a dad.
