39 Best Gifts for New Dads That Fathers Say They Really Want

Help the new dad live up to his role as Mr. Fix-It with this small but mighty gadget. It’s as tiny as a house key but is packed with 16 functions including a bottle opener, wire stripper, rule, file, and screwdriver.

As much as being a new parent is the absolute best, any alone time is really precious too. Make dad’s showers feel like a self-care spa when he gets to choose his suds from this 10-piece gift box of Dr. Squatch soaps. “The invigorating, naturally derived scents, with varying levels of exfoliating grit, are my husband’s favorite soaps, especially the ‘Birchwood Breeze,’” says Glamour contributor and mom Madeleine Bokan Thares.

Get the first-time dad his own stylish and sleek diaper bag to fill with the items he deems essential for outings with the little one. This one is so easy to keep organized, with thoughtful pocket placement and compartment design. Plus, an insulated bottle case and changing pad are included, so it’s really three gifts in one!

With all the contact napping in the early days of fatherhood, he’ll quickly make his way through nearly every show on streaming platforms. Give him something new to watch with this smart bird feeder. Thanks to the connected Bird Buddy app that uses AI to identify species, he’ll have real facts to pair with his bird-themed dad jokes.

“When friends ask us if we have any tips for balancing life, work, and parenting, my husband and I always recommend putting pen to paper,” says Bokan Thares. “A leather-bound planner is a thoughtful gift to help a first-time father do just that.” Whether he’s on leave or back at work, it’s never too early to get organized. He may be jotting down his baby’s early milestones and keeping track of their first doctor visits, but soon he’ll blink and will be writing in times for soccer practice.

Chances are dad is going to be put on laundry duty. You can make his life so much easier by gifting him this reliable stain-remover spray that actually gets the job done.

Whether he’s looking to hydrate or caffeinate, this 40-ounce tumbler is elite at keeping drinks cold all day. So if you leave it in the nursery and find it later, your drink will be just as you left it. And if baby or dad accidentally knocks the tumbler over, it’s all good, thanks to its 100% leak-proof straw.

He may think he’s still the cool guy, so good luck getting him to admit this, but terrible jokes and dads go hand in hand. This funny gift, which includes hundreds of one-liners, will help him brush up on his “skills,” bringing him one step closer to becoming the ultimate dad.

From walks to running errands and everything in between, new dads spend a lot of time on their feet. A comfortable and supportive sneaker is crucial to keeping any back aches or body pains from creeping in and taking away any of the joy of his first months of parenthood.

Just because he has a little one who depends on him, that doesn’t mean he should forgo all TLC. This breathable, textured cotton weighted blanket is a great gift from a wife, since it basically wraps him in a warm hug at a moment’s notice.

Washing bottles, rocking baby back and forth, and doing heaps and heaps of laundry…chances are your favorite new father is spending a lot of time on his feet these days. When he finally gets the opportunity to sit, he’ll revel in the luxury of this foot massager. It’s equipped with various settings—kneading, rolling, and more—as well as five pressure settings and soothing heat.

This set of two baseball caps—one adult-size, the other pint-size—presents another fun opportunity for Dad to match his littlest bestie. It’s got a practical purpose in masking messy hair too. Unsurprisingly, new dads tell us they’ve never been shorter on time to get ready for the day.

When he finds himself staring at the nursery wall at all hours of the night, he’ll appreciate this tech gift. He can pop the earbuds in and listen to soothing music or podcasts or even catch up on a recorded Zoom meeting he missed while he rocks his little one to sleep.

Baby is the star of the show now, and this Wi-Fi–enabled picture frame gives him a space to admire all of those gorgeous early snapshots. The frame, available in three finishes, couldn’t be simpler to use—just use the compatible smartphone app to instantly upload photos and videos from any phone.

Fashion-forward fathers can still enjoy the finer things, like these silk pajamas. They’re 100% machine-washable—i.e., spit-up- and drool-friendly.

New dads are undeniably proud of their little ones, and this pocket-size video camera will make sure they’re able to capture all of the memories. It operates in 4K Ultra HD to take impressively high-quality videos and has a built-in stabilizer for a lifelike video. It’s even waterproof up to 18 meters.

It’s an old dad joke, but one that’s undeniably on the money. He’s going to use his bathroom break as a way to tap out from the chaos. So why not help make that time as comfortable as possible? This bidet is easy to install, and the guys we tapped say it’s way more effective than TP.

Popping out to the local coffee shop first thing just got a lot harder, but who needs a barista when there’s a pro-level nitro cold-brew maker? This personal tap automatically maintains pressure to keep nitro fresh—and ice cold—for weeks on end.

If the dad-to-be is an avid runner, there’s no reason to give up his daily exercise just because a new baby has arrived. Jogging strollers like this one from Radio Flyer are made with special safety features and durable air tires that allow for a smooth ride while on the run. “The quick-switch feature to lock the front wheel for gravel and when you’re jogging at a faster pace is incredible,” wrote one happy parent on Amazon. “No more stopping and bending down to the front wheel to lock something into place or dealing with a difficult-to-turn stroller when you slow down on your run. The feature has almost zero learning curve and you can use it effortlessly within a couple of minutes of testing it out on the first use.”

Is the new dad mourning those leisurely afternoons tending to the grill or smoker? What new dads really want is the ability to do it all, and with this smart cooking thermometer he can. It operates on Bluetooth, so he can be inside feeding the baby a bottle and monitor whatever he’s got cooking outside. The smartphone app displays the temperature of the grill, the internal temp of the food, and the target temperature. When the food is done, he’ll get a notification.

Middle-of-the-night care is a doozy, especially in a dark nursery, but Audible’s subscription service is just what Dad needs to help him stay awake and (somewhat) alert. “My husband got us a subscription shortly after our first child was born, and the audiobooks were a huge sanity saver for both of us,” says contributor Brigitt Earley. “It kept us busy without a glaring screen interfering with the baby from dozing off.”

For new parents, sleep is a luxury. So anything that can upgrade the experience—like a set of high-quality sheets—is a thoughtful and very much appreciated present. Parachute’s supersoft sheets only get more comfortable over time, so they’re basically a gift that keeps on giving. Hot tip: Buy the matching crib sheets to help baby sleep better too.

Unlike the birthing parent, a dad-to-be probably doesn’t need to pack a comprehensive hospital bag. But he will need to bring some basics, and let’s be honest, he probably has more than he thinks. Save him from throwing a bunch of random stuff into a gallon-size Ziploc bag with this surprisingly spacious toiletry bag from Leatherology. We love it because it’s simple yet durable and classy, with two separate compartments that fit a lot of stuff. He will roll up to become a dad in style.

When taking care of a newborn, comfort is the name of the game. But while many men could be content to just roll around the house in a pair of beat-up slippers they’ve had in rotation since high school, your new dad deserves a wardrobe level-up. We love these slippers from Dearfoam because they're incredibly soft yet look pulled together enough to wear indoors and out. Like when he needs to run out for emergency diapers at 8 a.m., for example.

The first few months are such a blur, regular mealtimes can be hard to maintain. New parents will find it useful to have healthy-ish Amazon kid’s snacks in the back of the stroller or in a diaper bag to nosh on anytime they need something on the go. These beef jerky sticks are full of filling protein, contain zero added sugar, and—most important—taste good.

There are sweatpants, and then there are sweatpants. Like, the sweatpants you wear when you truly do not give AF, versus the ones you wear when you want to look at least a little slightly put together. And for a new dad, there are probably going to be a lot of visitors dropping by, both announced and unannounced, to see the new baby. Save him the awkwardness of standing there with holes in his pants as he hands the baby to grandma—give him these chic yet cozy joggers from Lululemon. The definition of a new-dad hack.

We at Glamour are huge fans of gifting a new mom or dad a luxe robe for many reasons: Postpartum bodies hate clothes, cozy is the name of the game, and it goes with everything. But another aspect of this perfect gift can be applied to a new dad too. A robe is a perfect clothing item to maximize cuddling with your newborn. Just place them on your chest, wrap the robe around both of you, and enjoy the snuggles. With this plush one from Luxome, they will be extra cozy.

Ask anyone who’s had a baby what the number one thing you need to bring to the hospital is, and they will probably tell you a phone charger. Specifically, a charger with an extra-long cord. But you should probably bring more chargers too: for the tablet, for your watch, and even for your laptop (hey, you never know!). Wrangling the chargers is a perfect job for a dad-to-be, and you can make his life easier with this classy case from Mark and Graham.

Get ready, this one’s a tear-jerker. We love this sweet tale of a dad who tells the story of his first days and then years with his little one, who he says is his perfect fit. “Of all of the children that ever could be, you are the one, made just for me,” he repeats. Seriously, it will make even the most stoic of dads to get a little choked up.

Vuori has become a Glamour-editor fave because its clothing manages to be both flattering and extremely, ridiculously soft. The brand’s leggings are some of the most comfortable we’ve ever worn, yet they still feel elevated. The men’s line is no different, with soft yet good-looking basics that are perfect for a paternity-leave uniform. This quarter-zip comes in a variety of neutrals and would make a great pillow for a little baby head while Dad still looks put-together.

Let’s face it: Everyone, literally everyone, needs and wants a good pair of socks. And when taking care of a new baby, it’s always nice to feel like the basics you are wearing while not sleeping and/or getting spit up on are not just the same old ratty things you’ve been wearing for years. A pack of Bombas (the best socks around, in our humble opinion) are therefore the perfect gift and always appreciated.

In a new parent’s wardrobe, basics are the name of the game. Like, they will be asking themselves, “How is it possible every T-shirt I have is in the laundry?” (Answer: because the baby has spit up on literally every single one.) Save him from having to do another load by gifting him a soft yet structured shirt from J.Crew. His closet will thank you.

Theragun has topped many tech gift guides in recent years due to its innovative and effective personal massagers. But the reason we think that the mini version is a great gift for new dads is its size and portability. It’s about the width of a palm and can be operated one-handed, meaning Dad could theoretically give himself a neck massage while holding a sleeping infant. Win-win.

Okay, let’s be honest here. All of this stuff on this list is great! But what does a new dad really need? Diapers. Lots and lots of diapers. But if you feel weird just handing him diapers (and you don’t want to figure out how to make one of those diaper cakes), Coterie’s got you covered. The Instagram-famous brand not only makes some of the softest diapers on the market, it has also packaged them in an adorable gift set that comes with a pouch and even a little stuffed bunny. Gifting something practical has never been so fun.

If they didn’t get one from their baby shower, a comfortable and reliable baby carrier is a great gift idea for any new parent. He’ll use it all the time, from contact naps at home and walks around the neighborhood to traveling in an airport with their baby. “My husband loves this one because it fits him comfortably, and the back support is unmatched. Even after dozens of washes it still looks, and feels, brand new,” says Bokan Thares.

With the Kindle app, dad can load his whole reading list onto this lightweight tablet, hold and flip pages with one hand, and dim the brightness, all while holding his sleeping baby. And when he’s too tired to read, he can stream his shows from any of his favorite platforms. Now all he’ll need to do is remember to charge it.

Give dad the gift of a stress-free travel bassinet for their newborn. The Bugaboo Stardust’s one-second unfold is a true innovation in the baby-gear space, plus its compact design takes up minimal space in your car’s trunk. “Whether we’re off to a hotel or my in-laws’ house, the fact that this literally takes seconds to set up fully means no frantic, sweaty furniture assembly when we get to our destination,” says Bokan Thares. “We loved the bassinet attachment when our daughter was a baby, and now we’ve zipped it off and use the Stardust as a small crib for naps or as a mini play yard.”