9 Gifts Ideas for Expectant Fathers

Becoming a father is an exciting, nerve-wracking, extraordinary chapter in the journey of life. There’s nothing equal to the gift of a new baby. But that doesn’t mean the expecting father in your life wouldn’t appreciate some other gifts as well, particularly ones that can help him stay cool, calm, and collected as he navigates his way through swaddling techniques, spit-up, and the art of the midnight lightless diaper change.

Whether the expectant father in your life is a first-time parent or a veteran dad entering the baby rodeo once again, take a peek at our guide of 9 cool gifts for expectant fathers.

Gifts for Dads Who Need Peace and Quiet

The sweetest sound your expectant father will hear is the sound of his new baby’s laughter. Unfortunately, the life of a parent isn’t all adorable coos and giggles. Babies are prone to crankiness and crying, with an impressive vocal range that belies their small size.

A gift that offers your expectant dad peace and quiet will be appreciated after nights of sleep regression and bouts of nap time battles. Check out these gift ideas for dads who just need a few minutes to recollect themselves.

#1 Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Both audiophiles and expecting parents alike are sure to appreciate a set of noise-cancelling headphones. Quality, effective noise-cancelling headphones, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, can transport Dad from baby nursery to babbling brook, or a live recording of the concert that’s past his new parent bedtime. These headphones are especially helpful if your new father is sleep training his little one and trying to resist her cries as she learns to self-soothe.

With the Bose QuietComfort headphones, Dad can adjust the level of noise-canceling if he wants to use them as regular headphones to stay alert to baby sounds, and just add a soundtrack to his parenting montage. Plus, they can connect wirelessly to Dad’s phone with Bluetooth pairing, so he won’t have to worry about his curious little explorer grabbing (or trying to eat) headphone wires.

For an added personal touch, consider creating an accompanying dad-themed playlist to present alongside these noise-cancelling headphones. Some of our favorite tracks for an expecting dad include:

• “First Man,” by Camila Cabello
• “My Old Man,” by Zac Brown Band
• “Glory,” by Jay-Z
• “Just the Two of Us,” by Will Smith
• “Daughters,” by John Mayer.

#2 Sleep Mask

After the baby’s arrival, sleep becomes a precious commodity. In fact, a new mom and dad will quickly learn the art of sleeping anywhere and time they can. (Who says kitchen counter naps aren’t comfortable?)

With the Manta Sleep Mask, Dad can make the most out of all his impromptu naps, wherever they take place. This new dad gift effectively blocks light, providing 100% blackout conditions to make drifting to sleep a breeze. It’s made with soft, breathable material and can be adjusted to fit any face. That means when Dad’s on diaper duty, Mom can wear it to sneak in a few extra Zs.

#3 White Noise Machine

For a perfect gift that both father and baby can appreciate, choose a white noise machine. The shushing created by white noise machines promotes calmness in sleepers of any age by creating a blanket of sound that masks ambient noise.

One study found that white noise machines are great for baby care as they effectively settle fussy babies because the shushing sounds closely mimic the sounds heard inside Mom’s womb—a place babies associate with comfort and safety.

The Dohm Elite is a tried-and-true white noise machine that has the National Sleep Foundation’s stamp of approval. That’s because it creates natural white noise with a motorized fan rather than emitting pre-recorded sounds. It also allows parents to adjust the volume—an important feature as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping white noise machine sound levels below 50 decibels to prevent auditory damage.

Are you also looking for a gift for a newly pregnant friend? This is a great one that both mom’s and dad’s will appreciate!

Gifts for Dads Who Want to Relax

Being a parent is a full-time job. While your new dad is busy playing peek-a-boo, learning lullabies, and dabbing baby drool, he may forget to set aside time to rest and recuperate.

The following thoughtful gifts can help your expectant father sneak in some much-needed relaxation and recharge his #1 Dad batteries.

#4 Personal Massager

Carrying around heavy diaper bags and rocking a growing baby every day is a new type of workout—one your expectant father’s muscles may not be accustomed to. To alleviate tension and reduce stress, treat your new dad to a personal massager.

This Shiatsu Neck Massager is a thoughtful gift that provides deep tissue kneading and soothing heat to ease tense muscles and tackle localized aches and pains. It can be used on the neck and back, but also the shoulders, legs, feet, and waist, providing total body relaxation.

A personal massager also works as a great valentines gift for a pregnant wife or baby shower gift for an expectant mother.

#5 Subscription Services

Monthly or weekly subscription boxes are a unique gift idea to ensure your dad-to-be is taking care of himself as well as his new baby. Recurring boxes can be tailor-made to meet Dad’s needs or fit his interests. Plus, the gift box is delivered straight to his doorstep, saving the expectant dad valuable time.

Has your new dad replaced running to the grocery store with ordering take-out every night? Choose a meal subscription box, such as Hello Fresh or Blue Apron, to deliver ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes for healthy, homemade meals. Do 5am baby wake-up calls have your new dad running on empty? Atlas Coffee Club’s monthly boxes can introduce him to coffees from around the world. Is he an aspiring mixologist? Surprise him with a subscription to American Cocktail Club, which delivers 5-star cocktails in a box.

#6 DIY New Dad Survival Kit

If you’re artsy and prefer to give gifts with a personal touch, create your own New Dad Survival Kit. You can fill it with a mixture of items you think your expectant father will appreciate, from gifts that will help him relax to gag gifts that will leave him rolling with laughter.

A few suggestions for your New Dad Survival Kit:

• Extra t-shirts for projectile spit ups
• Peepee Teepees
• Emergency odor-neutralizing sprays
• Headache medicine
• 5-hour Energy
• His favorite snacks
• Rubber gloves and goggles labeled specifically “for diaper blowouts”

Gifts for Dads Who Love Being Prepared

If the dad-to-be in your life was a model boy scout as a kid, the best expectant father gifts are the ones that’ll help him navigate the new landscape of fatherhood. Whether he’s hosting a playdate with his dad group or tackling his first one-on-one weekend with his baby, consider some of the following presents to keep him prepared and ahead of the pack.

#7 Diaper Bags for Men

Pastel-colored totes covered in cartoon giraffes and bunnies may not exactly fit your soon-to-be dad’s vibe. Fortunately, there is a range of classy diaper bag options available so Papa and Baby can roll out in style.

When shopping for a men’s diaper bag consider a built-in changing mat since many men’s restrooms don’t have changing facilities. This modern diaper bag by Paperclip actually folds open into a changing station. This practical gift, which is also considered one of the best pregnancy gifts for first time moms, is also spacious, so your new dad will always be well-equipped with clean diapers, wet wipes, and extra milk.

For the ultimate convenience factor, supplement his diaper bag with the Dad Hoodie. This comfy and breathable hoodie is designed with sturdy inner compartments that can hold extra snacks, a clean binkie, or even a favorite stuffed animal.

#8 Comfortable Shoes

For the dad who’s always on his feet, a pair of stylish and (more importantly) comfortable shoes are bound to come in handy. With a pair of slip-on shoes, such as Allbirds’ Tree Loungers, Dad doesn’t have to worry about laces when heading out the door.

If your expectant parent enjoys staying active, consider a pair of running shoes, like Asics’ Gel-Kayano. These shoes offer a sturdy midsole along with GEL technology that optimizes support and comfort so he can work on his dad-bod jogging with stroller in tow.

#9 Dad Books

Every father can benefit from a guiding voice of experience when learning how to parent. Help the expectant daddy in your life study his new responsibilities and adjust to life with his newborn baby with parenting books written specifically for dads.

Some of our favorites include:

• The Expectant Father by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash – This New York Times-bestselling guide includes chapters that explore labor and delivery, baby growth, and partner support.
• Man Vs. Child by Doug Moe – Written from a dad’s perspective, this book offers advice that’s both hilarious and helpful.

If your future dad is a fan of comedy, consider Jim Gaffigan’s Dad is Fat to help him find the humor in fatherhood, or equip him with a funny gift book of dad jokes so he can start doing his own stand-up at home.

For new dads who aren’t necessarily bookworms, try an audiobook. That way, Dad can still elevate his fatherhood knowledge even when he’s busy dealing with dirty diapers or driving to a checkup at the OBGYN.

Give New Dads A Gift They’ll Never Forget: SneakPeek’s Early Gender Prediction Test

As the soon-to-be dad in your life prepares for his journey into fatherhood with baby gear, helpful advice, and thoughtful gifts, he’ll likely wonder about the newest addition to his family. Will she share his love of sports? Will he have his mother’s eyes? Will she be a she or a he?

With SneakPeek’s At-Home Early Gender Prediction Test, you can give your expectant father the gift of learning his baby’s gender earlier than with a sonogram. In fact, SneakPeek’s test can identify the gender of a baby months before a sonogram can, with over 99% accuracy¹. Plus, testing is easy, and can be done from the comfort of home.

Help your dad-to-be prepare to meet his little princess or his little prince with SneakPeek Gender.

Editorial Policy

At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by:

Sarah Cacia

Sarah Cacia, currently leading as the Director of Business Development at Gateway Genomics, parent company of SneakPeek, brings an impressive blend of bioengineering expertise and clinical business acumen. Her extensive experience, marked by roles at renowned institutions like Genentech and UC San Diego's Cardiac Mechanics Research Group, underpins her deep understanding of biotechnology and clinical research. A UC San Diego alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering: BioSystems, Sarah's rich professional background empowers her to provide authoritative insights into the cutting-edge developments in the field.

Sources:

NCBI. White noise and sleep induction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1792397/

AAP News & Journals Gateway. Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/4/677