Gift Ideas for New Dads that Will Make Parenthood a Little Easier in 2021
It’s not easy finding gift ideas for new dads. Especially for those dads that are of a more practical state of mind and declare there’s nothing they need.
An ideal gift for new dads is a present that they can use again and again, and make their new role as a father easier and more manageable. Whether it saves them time, keeps them sane, or makes getting their newborn off to sleep a little easier, dads will appreciate these gift ideas.
1. Coffee Machine
A lack of sleep will be a certainty for any new dad. Deprived of quality sleep, dads will need an extra caffeine boost.
Nespresso coffee machines are a gift idea for sleep-deprived dads. They’re easy to use, taste better than any high-street coffee shop, look great on the kitchen side, and they have a recycling scheme for their pods.
Mums who are are breastfeeding can also benefit from this gift as the guidance says they can still enjoy a coffee each day. Decaf coffee pods are also available.
Be aware that the cost of coffee-pods is generally more expensive than instant coffee, and whoever you gift this to will have to pay out for them.
Lower Budget Option: Nespresso VertuoHigher Budget Option: Nespresso Gran Lattissima
Additional gift ideas to go with a coffee machine: milk frother, fancy coffee cups, travel mug
2. Wireless Earbuds
Sometimes new dads just need some time to zone out; some good music or an interesting podcast can help. And listening with noise-cancelling headphones is even better. Of course, only while someone else has an eye and an ear on the baby.
Wireless earbuds also come in handy for saving dads from boredom while taking on those few monotonous parenting tasks, such as endlessly rocking your baby to sleep.
As more of us will continue to work from home in 2021, wireless earbuds are a perfect gift for new dads working remotely. The noise-cancelling feature is handy for blocking out background noise and improving concentration.
One advantage over a pair of headphones is that dads can use just one earbud in, leaving one ear free to listen out for any noise from their baby or partner asking for help.
It’s best to gift a pair with Active Noise-Cancelling, this makes a big difference to the audio quality by reducing background noise.
The only drawbacks to wireless earbuds is that they’re easier to lose, especially with a young one around, so they’ll need to be kept safe.
Lower Budget Option: Taotronics Hybrid Wireless EarbudsHigher Budget Option: Sony WF-1000XM3
Additional gift ideas to go with wireless earbuds: Spotify gift voucher, Audible gift voucher
3. Kindle E-Reader
For new fathers, there will inevitably be times when the environment needs to be quiet and dark to get the baby off to sleep. While some dads might prefer to binge-watch the latest Netflix series, reading a good book is even better and can be enjoyed during quiet time.
An old analogue book isn’t easy to read with a baby on you. Reading on a Kindle leaves one hand free to support the baby. Or you can even use a case with a stand to read while doing other parenting tasks.
The backlight on a Kindle means dads can also continue to read when the lights are down, and they’re getting the little one off to sleep.
Amazon’s latest kindle option is waterproof, which might come in handy for a new dad, saving them from spilt drinks in years to come.
The cheaper kindle options will show ads unless you pay a little more for the ad-free version. You can pay the small charge to remove ads after purchase.
A practical bonus gift is a kindle case that not only protects it but doubles as a stand. I would often prop my Kindle up and ready while swaying baby off to sleep.
Lower Budget Option: KindleHigher Budget Option: Kindle Oasis (32GB, 3G & WiFi)
Additional gift ideas to go with a Kindle: Kindle case, Amazon gift voucher to purchase books
4. Smart Speaker
A Smart speaker makes an excellent gift for new dads. After having a baby is the perfect time to introduce a smart voice-activated speaker into your home.
A new dad, will have plenty of questions that need answering, while their hands are full, such as “Is baby poo supposed to be so green?”.
Besides answering questions, these speakers are also useful for new parents in many other ways, such as setting timers to warm up milk, playing lullabies, and making phones call while holding the baby.
If you’re willing to spend more on the gift, you could choose a smart speaker with a screen. These can display videos, weather, games and much more while doubling up as a digital photo frame to show off all the lovely new baby photos.
These smart displays make great gifts for new parents because they can be used along with some WiFi-connected baby cams to display the picture.
Amazon’s Alexa speaker also enables you to reorder those newborn essentials like nappies and wipes the moment you notice you’re running low.
Of course, as it’s a speaker, it will also play music, whether it’s lullabies to get the baby off to sleep or a bit of Monday motivation to increase your energy levels. You simply connect whatever music streaming service you use to the speaker.
Just hope that the babies first words aren’t “Hey Google” or “Alexa”.
Lower Budget Option: Amazon Echo Dot, Google Nest Mini Higher Budget Option: Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub
Besides Google and Amazon’s smart speaker offerings, the Apple HomePod is a great gift option for those dads that are Apple fans.
Additional gift ideas to go with a Smart Speaker: Smart lights, Video doorbell
5. Smart Lights
Most dads love new gadgets and anything that makes them feel like the future has arrived. Controlling the lighting with your phone or voice certainly creates a futuristic setting for your home.
When new dads have a baby finally off to sleep on their chest they won’t dare want to move to avoid waking them. With Smart lights, you can lower the brightness through an app or using your voice assistant.
Smart lights are great gifts for new parents as they also turn an average light into a dimmable one, perfect for those night feeds and changing nappies in the night. Keeping the lights down low will help your child get back off to sleep.
Some smart lights enable you to change the colour, setting the mood for the date nights in for romantic dinners or cosy movie nights; great for new parents who will be having fewer nights out.
Lower Budget Option: TP-Link Tapo Smart Bulb Higher Budget Option: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance Mini Starter Kit
Additional gift ideas to go with a Smart Lights: Smart Speaker
6. Smartwatch
Reaching for your phone isn’t always an option with a little one around. One feature of a smartwatch is seeing all your messages without picking up your phone.
Also, looking at your phone less is beneficial as it will mean your child will be less eager to always get their hands on your mobile.
With a smartwatch, dads can send quick replies while keeping your baby entertained, show off all the extra steps they’ve been getting in, and track all the sleep they’re missing out on.
One smartwatch feature particularly useful for new dads is the vibrating alarm clock that won’t disturb your partner or sleeping baby.
A smartwatch can also encourage people to live healthier lifestyles. A healthy dad will be able to spend more quality time with their children.
Lower Budget Option: Fossil Sport Higher Budget Option: Apple Watch 6, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Additional gift ideas to go with a Smartwatch: Watch Strap
7. Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock
A wake-up light alarm clock sits in your bedroom and wakes you gradually with increasing brightness simulating the sunrise.
A light alarm clock is an excellent practical gift for new dads. Late restless nights mean getting up early for work is particularly tough for new dads. Waking up with gradually increasing brightness wakes you more naturally and is reported to improve your mood.
Being woken by loud irritating noise isn’t an ideal start to anyone’s day. A wake up by light can help reduce that grogginess you feel waking up in the morning.
They also make sounds to wake you up if the light reaches full brightness and you’re still asleep.
These lights also often have Sunset simulation features, calming noises, or can be used as a regular bedside lamp to help your bedtime routine.
Lower Budget Option: Lumie Sunrise AlarmHigher Budget Option: Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB
8. Phone with a Top-Notch Camera
Once you become a dad, photos become one of your most prized possessions as time seems to move increasingly quickly.
As babies grow, they move more and more and getting a good photo becomes a challenge. New dads will appreciate a camera with a fast shutter speed. It will make the challenge easier and help capture those special moments.
In the years to come, dads won’t regret having high-res images to look back on.
Make sure that whatever device you gift them has plenty of storage capacity. This will be handy for the 1000s of photos new dads will inevitably take. Remind them to back up their images to the cloud as well.
Lower Budget Option: One Plus NordHigher Budget Option: Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Additional gift options: Tripod, gift vouchers for a photo book
9. Tile — Tracking Device
It’s not always easy for a dad to keep track of where they’ve left your things, particularly when a little person gets their hands. And Lost keys become far more of an issue with a baby in tow. Or those who are always misplacing their things, a Tile can help them out.
Tile is a small device you can attach to your precious items and an accompanying app lets you track your device. The app also triggers a sound on the Tile to help you find it. This comes in particularly handy for new dads to check that you have the item in your pocket or bag when you’re leaving the house.
You could even attach it to that soft toy that your baby can’t be without. The smallest Tile option can be stuck to the TV control, another object that goes missing daily when children can get their hands on them.
10. Travel Mug
With all that extra coffee they’ll be drinking, a travel mug is another great practical gift for new dads. Late-night drives or walks around the neighbourhood are common techniques to try to get the baby off to sleep. A decent travel mug you can take with you is a simple luxury that will help ensure dad stays awake and alert.
New dads will have a lot to juggle, and there be plenty of times when a freshly made coffee is forgotten. A thermal travel mug will keep it warm for when they suddenly remember.
You can get customised travel mugs to make the gift a little more personal. Not On The Highstreet have plenty of personalised travel mugs that would be ideal gifts for new dads
This article was originally posted at firstyeardad.co.uk
