December 4, 2020

Fathers sometimes get overlooked when it comes to showering new parents with holiday gifts. Typically, moms get most of the attention and new baby swag, but make no mistake, dads appreciate thoughtful parenting gifts, too! If you’ve got a soon-to-be-dad on your holiday gift list, we’ve got some great ideas that are sure to make him feel special.

Dad-Friendly Diaper Bag

Dads do their share of diapering and toting around the supplies their babies needs during an outing. Why not get the new dad in your life a diaper bag that’s practical and more suited to his style? This one from HighSpeedDaddy via Amazon has all the bells and whistles for changing baby on the go, but with a more rugged, tactical-looking style. It’s a bit pricier than your average diaper bag, but it’s so versatile, dad can probably use it well beyond the diaper-changing years. If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, Columbia makes a messenger-style diaper bag that has a nice neutral style and plenty of practical compartments and is about half the price of the one from HighSpeedDaddy.

Skin-to-Skin Bonding Shirt

Skin-to-skin contact has been scientifically found to promote bonding between a parent and a newborn. Additionally, skin-to-skin contact can help calm and soothe a fussy baby. It may even help promote their development, which is why medical professionals usually encourage skin-to-skin contact between parents and babies born prematurely.¹ You can get the new dad on your list a special type of shirt, usually called a bonding shirt or kangaroo care shirt, designed to easily allow skin-to-skin contact between dad and baby. Most of these shirts have a flap that can be pulled away from the chest area and resecured with snaps or Velcro. Here’s one from DadWare.com for about $40. And here’s one with a slightly different design from a seller on Etsy for about the same price. A quick Google Shopping search will help you find a variety to choose from.

Quality Men’s Skin Care Set

Speaking of skin, let’s not ignore the fact that dads want to look their best too. Help them pamper themselves and promote self-care with a good skin care set. We’re not talking about the typical body wash and deodorant sets that scream, “I had no idea what to get you for Christmas.” We mean a real, grown-up skin care set that actually helps skin look and feel great. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel is one product line that is both affordable (individual bottles start around $24) and effective. In fact, it was listed as one of the top men’s skin care products for 2020 by Town & Country.²

Another line to consider is Jack Black skin care products. No, it’s not the actor/musician’s brand. This product line has everything from lip balm to beard oil to tattoo care kits, in simple, no-frills packaging. Not sure which products the dad in your life would love most? You can also buy gift cards directly from the website, letting the new dad pick out his own skin care products.

Parenting Books

The old saying, “There’s no instruction manual to parenting,” is true. But there are plenty of great books written on the subject, and while they may not offer step-by-step instructions for every aspect of parenting, they can provide a lot of insight, tips, and even humor to help a guy acclimate to his new role as a dad. Need a few ideas? Here are some titles we think most new dads will enjoy:

• Man vs. Baby, by Matt Coyne (Great for the dad with a sense of humor)
• The Baby Owner’s Manual, by Louis Borgenicht, M.D. and Joe Borgenicht, D.A.D. (Great for the dad who appreciates a good instruction manual … and has a sense of humor)
• Love, Money & Parenting: How Economics Explains the Way We Raise Our Kids, by Matthias Doepke and Fabrizio Zilibotti (Great for the dad who is interested in economics and finance)
• First Time Dad: Pregnancy Handbook for Dads-To-Be (What to Expect for the Next 9 Months), by Steven Bell (Great for the dad who doesn’t have a clue about pregnancy)

Gift Cards

No matter what you decide to give to the dad-to-be on your list, just putting in the thought will be much appreciated. And, if all else fails, you can always go the simple route and get him a gift card for Amazon, Target, Walmart, or another major retailer so he can get what he wants when he wants. Gift cards are sometimes thought to be impersonal, but for new parents, they can be the ultimate gift. They’re super practical and valuable gifts for the dad whose household bills just got a lot bigger, thanks to his adorable new addition. Giving him a gift card means he can get a little something for himself if he chooses, or he can use it to buy groceries or new tires or just about anything else to help provide for his family.

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