Buying a gift for a new dad is harder than it looks. Most "dad gifts" are either cheesy or completely useless. After more than a decade of writing about pregnancy and new parenthood (and being a parent myself), I've rounded up the gifts that are genuinely thoughtful, practical, and, where possible, a little fun.
Whether it's his first Father's Day, a baby shower gift, or just a "congratulations, your life is about to get wonderfully chaotic" gesture, there's something here for every kind of dad.
Quick Picks: New Dad Gifts by Category
Whether you're shopping for a sentimental type or a guy who just needs things that work, there's something here for every kind of dad:
- For the practical dad — Dad Hoodie, Ergobaby Carrier, Baby Brezza
- For the sentimental dad — Custom Board Book, Custom Night Sky Print, Dad's Story Journal
- For the funny dad — DILF Mug, Dad Jokes Book, Anaconda Support
Wearable & Hands-Free Favorites
The Dad Hoodie Think of it as a diaper bag you wear. This ridiculously soft hoodie has six stretchy mesh pockets sized for everything — wallet, phone, sippy cups, diapers, wipes. Honestly, you could also fit a beer and a sandwich in there if you were so inclined. There's now a vest version too, which is great for warmer weather. Shop the Dad Hoodie →
Ergobaby Omni Baby Carrier A lot of carriers work great for one parent and are miserable for the other. The Omni tends to work well for both. I specifically chose this one because dads tend to run hot (insert your own joke here) and this is genuinely the most breathable carrier on the market. Shop here →
Sentimental & Keepsake Gifts
Daddy & Me Personalized Board Book Upload your favorite photos, customize the text, and you get an adorable board book that both dad and baby will love. These are the kind of thing that ends up being a genuine keepsake and not just a cute idea. Find them on Artifact Uprising →
Custom Night Sky Print These made-to-order prints show the exact night sky on the date your child was born. You can get versions with multiple dates, which is great for dads with more than one kid. They send you a JPEG to print yourself, which actually works in your favor — no worrying about it getting crushed in the mail, and you can size it however you want at any office supply store. Shop options here →
Custom Story Book Wonderbly makes gorgeous personalized hardcover books where you can add the child's name and what they call dad — whether that's Dad, Papi, or something else entirely. These 34-page books are genuinely beautiful, and the photos online don't do them justice. Check them out on Wonderbly →
Dad's Story: A Memory and Keepsake Journal This guided journal helps dads capture things their kids will actually want to know someday — what their childhood home was like, their first job, the best advice they ever got, what they wish they'd done differently. It's one of those gifts that seems simple but ends up being really meaningful, especially for first-time dads. Find it at Target →
Best Daddy Ever Photos This is a fun and relatively easy way to capture your kids and share a beautiful sentiment.
Practical Wins (The Unglamorous Heroes)
Baby Brezza Formula Dispenser To be clear: this is not a "dads are clueless" gift. If you're formula feeding, scooping and measuring at 3 a.m. is genuinely miserable. This dispenser means whoever is doing the night shift — regardless of who usually handles feeding — just hits a button and has a bottle ready. Game changer for any household doing formula. Find it here →
Battery Daddy Case Parenthood comes with a million batteries. Ah, nothing like your child to be excited about an awesome gift only to find out it takes C batteries (who the heck has those on hand?!) This case can hold all the batteries, comes with a charger, and can fit in a drawer. Find it here →
DIY New Dad Survival Kit Getting caught without a spare diaper when your baby decides to blow out their onesie in a parking lot is a rite of passage, but it doesn't have to be. A canvas pouch stocked with a diaper, disposable change pad, hand sanitizer, baggies, a spare onesie, and a pacifier lives in the car and saves the day more times than you'd expect. Shop the "baby crap" bag — or the "oh sh!t" version — in our store →
Rad Dad Subscription Box These hand-packed boxes have something for dad (snacks!) and something for him to do with baby. It's a genuinely fun gift without being over-the-top or overwhelming. Find it on Cratejoy →
Matching Sets (They Never Get Old)
Little Man Big Man T-Shirt Set I will never stop loving a father-baby matching set, and I especially love the ones that still make sense when they're not standing next to each other. Buy on Etsy →
Big Dipper / Little Dipper Shirts The little dipper comes in sizes starting at 3–6 months and goes all the way up to fit a 12-year-old. Perfect for new dads and dads who've been at it for a while. Find them here →
Pint and Half-Pint T-Shirt and Onesie There's also a subtle Little House on the Prairie reference in there for people who catch it — which honestly makes it even better. Find on Etsy →
Tracing T-Shirt The car playmat shirt is also a thing that exists, and I want 10 of both. Find on Etsy →
For the Dad Who Wants to Actually Remember This
Baby Bonding Activity Tokens A little jar of tokens with activity prompts — "read our favorite storybook," "bubble blowing," that kind of thing. You can personalize it for dad, papi, whatever he goes by. Pair it with a few supplies for the activities and it becomes a genuinely thoughtful, interactive gift. Find on Etsy →
The Funny-But-Useful Shelf
Dad Jokes Book I'm not proud of the fact that a few of these actually made me laugh. Makes a great small gift, stocking stuffer, or even a clever pregnancy announcement. Find at Target →
DILF Mug Funny, but subtle enough to fly under the radar with most relatives. You know the ones. Find here →
Father Figure Can Cooler Inexpensive, fun, and totally appropriate for an expecting or new dad. Find on Etsy →
Daddy's Little Beard Puller Onesie For the itty-bitty hipsters in training. Find on Etsy →
For the Dad Who Has Everything
Adopt an Anaconda (WWF) My anaconda don't want none unless you got... okay, you know how it goes. But genuinely, a charity donation in his name is a lovely gift for the dad who truly doesn't need anything, and WWF makes it easy and meaningful.
The Splurge Pick
Veer Cruiser The Cruiser can be pushed like a high-end stroller or pulled like a wagon, works with an Infant Car Seat Adaptor, and holds up to 150 lbs while being lighter than most double strollers. It's made from aircraft-grade aluminum and it's legitimately beautiful. We tested one for over five years and it held up. If someone's asking for a big-ticket gift idea, this is it. Shop on their site → | Read our full review →
Have a great new dad gift I missed?
Drop it in the comments — I genuinely want to know.
Also worth reading: A Dad’s Guide to Raising Baby Girls
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