The Best Gifts for New Dads | 2023
The best gift you could give a new parent would be a night of restful sleep and a day without screams, spills, or blowouts. But as it’s rather impossible to gift all that, we’ve instead assembled a list of great gifts for new dads that will help that newly minted ‘ol man — or the dad on round two or three or more of having a new baby — have the best time he can with his newest, littlest buddy. The curation of these new dad gifts comes as a result of our personal experience, conversations with other dads, insights from parenting and product experts, and thanks to exhaustive research, some of it conducted while exhausted because of kids. In other words, these new dad gifts pass the test.
Ergo Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier
Bring baby everywhere and multi-task at home
This is one of the most comfortable and easy-to-use baby carriers you’ll ever find, which is why it is a favorite with countless thousands of dads and moms all around the globe. Suitable for use with babies as little as seven pounds, you can use this carrier to start bringing along baby from day one. And you can do that in myriad positions, from front carry to side carry to backpack style, and up until the kid is a hefty 45 pounds. (Not that you will, but still.) With a great baby carrier, not only can you walk, hike, or even visit a museum or park, but you can even do things like cook or brush your teeth or pace aimlessly around at 2 a.m.
How to Eat with One Hand Cookbook
The cookbook you need once everything has changed
This cookbook was written by a pair of mothers and with new moms as its principal intended audience, but we took a close look and, as it turns out, new dads do a lot of cooking and eating, too. The recipes in this book are simple and satisfying, and that’s exactly what a new parent needs. And many of the recipes are kid-friendly, too, so you can help the little ones develop a broad palate as they begin to eat solid foods in the second half of that first year.
Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Sound Machine
Better sleep thanks to Science
The womb is a noisy place, with a mother’s heartbeat, pulse, and digestive system making noise at all times, not to mention her voice and all the other sounds coming in from the outside world. Thus, that outside world sounds strange to new babies. That’s why they respond so well to a rather loud, steady shushing noise made by a caregiver, but when said caregiver needs a break, the Baby Shusher steps in. This unique, scientifically-developed sound machine is proven to get little babies to calm down and fall asleep faster than myriad other options.
Pashartuk Snap Button Flannel Shirt
Baby snuggles made easy
Skin-to-skin contact is highly important for babies, and that’s true from the very first moments of life. Being in direct skin contact with mom, dad, or another caregiver provides physical warmth, it provides comfort due to the tactile sensation, and it can strengthen the bond between the adult and baby. These snap closure shirts can be quickly and easily opened, even using just one hand, making it simple to stick that baby right up against dad’s body. And they can be closed up single-handedly, too. The fact that these snap shirts come in multiple colors and patterns and are quite comfortable is a good thing, too.
Kelty Journey PerfectFit Child Carrier
Bring them along, mile after mile, year after year
Parenting is an adventure all in itself, but who said your outdoor adventures have to stop because of it? With this tried-and-true carrier (we have used a Kelty kid carrier for more than four years!) you can strap your little one to your back and head out over hills, meadows, and even mountains. (And yes, we have done that.) It can accommodate a child as large as 40 pounds, so the adventuring can last many years, and as the pack distributes weight as well as any ergonomic hiking pack, the treks surely will go on for many years, too.
“Just Me and My Dad” by Mercer Mayer
Who love this book more…?
Reading to his kids is one of a dad’s happiest times and it’s a critically important time for the kids, who during these book times will not only develop an ever closer bond with dad but will also begin to be exposed to reading and to language writ large. This classic book by one of the world’s favorite children’s authors will delight young kids and will bring a misty eye or two to dad.
Happy Grub Pancake Mix
One hand free? No problem, let’s cook
For the dad who legitimately is cooking breakfast with one arm while the other bounces baby, this shake-and-squeeze pancake and waffle mix is hard to beat. All dad needs to do is add water to a bottle of Happy Grub pancake mix, and then he can squeeze out ready-to-cook pancakes right into the pan or onto the griddle. And they come in multiple flavors, so even picky little eaters will find one they like.
Veer Cruiser Wagon
Let’s get those kids rolling
A Veer Cruiser is your ticket to taking the kids anywhere, from the beach to the park to the campsite and even over well-maintained trails. This versatile, modular wagon can carry two kids who weigh up to 55 pounds each, but it can also be modified for the safe attachment of an infant’s car seat, so the overland treks can start right away. The Cruiser can be decked out with sunshades, snack trays, and with optional baskets that allow you to haul along plenty of gear.
The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior
Understand the mind of your child more with every page
This recently revised book provides incredible insight into a baby’s brain development. Utilizing scientific data answers questions like: “Why is my baby crying and clingy?” It delves into the brain “leaps” that a baby undergoes based on age over the course of their first 20 months of life. These “leaps” often follow a predictable pattern – fussy times followed by periods of peace and a baby’s use of new skills, e.g. — so the book helps make life more predictable, or at least more understandable, for the new parents.
YETI Rambler Mug
Coffee kept hot. And safe
Yes, it’s fun to think about when you’ll have the free time to take your YETI Rambler mug camping or to the beach or such in the future, but for now, you use it because its secure, sealable lid prevents spills of hot coffee on sensitive skin, and because the same double-walled insulation that keeps the coffee, cocoa, or tea inside the mug hot keeps the outside of the Rambler cooler and safe to the touch.
Olukai Moloa Slippers
Inside, outside, hands-free, comfy feet assured
Whether worn when he steps outside to toss the trash or grab a few logs for the fire or worn inside as he endlessly rocks and shushes his baby, dad will love these superb slippers from Olukai. They can be pulled onto the foot like a classic slipper or stepped into thanks to the fold-down back, so dad can get his slippers on or off, hands-free, in seconds flat.
Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine
You deserve good coffee, and in less than a minute flat
A good cup of coffee can do wonders to help dad through those long days of early childhood, especially given all those very long nights. And when that good (and strong) cup of coffee can be made at the literal press of a button, that’s all the better. This slender countertop device from Nespresso delivers cup after cup of rich, tasty coffee.
Tribit AquaEase Waterproof Speaker
Showering? Cooking? Spit-up? You’re tunes are safe
Whether he’s enjoying a podcast, the news, or a song during the only alone time he gets during a shower or he’s jamming to the beats with the kids during their bathtime, this surprisingly powerful waterproof speaker will make dad’s day better. It can be used in the kitchen without fear of spills, and it can come along and keep the fun going outside, even at the pool, lake, or beach.
