45 Best First Father's Day Gifts for Dads Who Are Going to Crush This Parenting Thing
Make the new dad in your life feel ultra-special with these unique and meaningful gifts.
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You only get one chance to buy a first Father's Day gift for a new dad — make it count! This year, Dad needs something that celebrates his new status as a first-time father, be it a personalized shirt that says "Dada," a Daddy & Me outfit to wear around town or a gadget or parenting tool that'll make him say, "I got this."
With that in mind, we put together the best first Father's Day gifts. The parenting gear included has been vetted and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute and has risen to the top of the pack. Others are items Good Housekeeping readers can't stop buying. There are also fun options that'll let him wear his dad-ness on his sleeve, or useful gifts that'll get him through those early, sleepless nights. Take a look at the list, and the first Father's Day will be sorted!
Need a note to go with your gift? Check out Good Housekeeping's new downloadable Father's Day cards.
At first, Dad will be touched that this book explains how much he's loved by his family. But as the kids get older, they'll be amazed that their names and likenesses are included in the book, which will make for fun read-alouds. It comes in hardcover and soft-cover versions. Note: It'll arrive after Father's Day if you order from Amazon, but Wonderbly says they'll still get it out in time if you order directly from its website.
He'll always remember how small his peanut once was when he looks over at this preserved handprint or footprint. You can also add a couple of Dad's best snapshots, too. The kit comes with the frame, the clay and letter and number stamps so you can add a name and year.
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2
New parents never get to drink their morning brew right away, but that doesn't mean they're relegated to 18 years of cold coffee. This uses an app to keep the coffee heated to the temperature Dad sets it to, so he can let it linger while he's on baby duty without worry.
This ultra-soft hoodie was designed with new dads in mind: He can ditch the diaper bag, thanks to built-in compartments for diapers, bottles and baby wipes, etc.
What could be better for a First Father's Day photo than coordinating Daddy & Me outfits? If pizza isn't his thing, you can also get coordinating T-shirt-and-bodysuit outfits with Player 1 and Player 2 game controllers.
He'll be able to wear his heart on his sleeve with this personalized bracelet, which lets him name the important people in his life. The braided leather gives it a contemporary look.
Subtle, cool and most appropriate, Amazon reviewers say the fit is excellent, super comfortable and particularly good for taller men. "It’s so soft, fits true to size, and I love the simplicity of something so special," one person wrote.
Nothing says "I am your father" quite like Darth Vader, and we know that dads never get over their love of LEGO. Put the two together with this 834-piece set, which is perfect for display.
RELATED: The Best LEGO Sets for Adults
Sure, they can't start on these activities together until the baby is older, but dad will be chuffed to receive it anyway — and he'll get to start dreaming of his life raising kids. The box includes ideas for 100 shared activities, like hula-hoop contests and making a video together that you watch a year later.
Yogasleep Hushh 2 Portable Sound Machine
When Dad takes the baby on the go, this ultra-portable sound machine can go with them, making naptime a breeze. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved the built-in carabiner strap. "It’s easy to hang from just about anywhere," one said.
With a new baby at home, he can never have too many photos. But rather than going through a photo-printing service, which takes time, this wireless printer connects with Bluetooth, so Dad can get hard copies right away.
You can carry your baby three ways this carrier, which we named the best hybrid baby carrier in a recent roundup. We appreciate that it's packable for travel, easy to put on yourself and machine washable.
'Letters to My Baby' Book
This book makes it easy for fathers to share their thoughts on becoming a dad for the first time. It has 12 letter-writing prompts, like "My first impressions of you were," or "All the things I hope you'll try someday." Later, they'll be an awesome gift for Dad's now-all-grown-up baby.
Dad wants a brag book, too! And users of either Shutterfly or Amazon Photos will find it even easier to create a custom book with all of his favorite memories from his first year as a father.
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'A Daily Dose of Dad Jokes' Book
Trust us: He's going to need a repertoire of dad jokes. This one offers 365 truly groan-worthy ones (in other words, the best kind).
When you're a new dad, that morning hit of caffeine is essential. If Dad likes his coffee cold, save him some trips to the coffee shop with this handy gadget. It has a small footprint on the counter, but still makes enough coffee concentrate to last for up to a week. Good Housekeeping Institute testers also liked how easy it is to clean. You can also get it in a larger size.
RELATED: The Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers
If he's more of a cocktail guy, then sign him up for a monthly cocktail box subscription. Each month, Shaker & Spoon picks three seasonal recipes and sends him everything he needs to make 12 cocktails total (minus the booze, which he'll need to purchase separately).
Dan Ricker, a co-head writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, offers up parenting "advice" with a ton of humor, telling new parents things like they can save money on soccer by having their kid join a cult. It's perfect for those new dads who are really in the thick of it.
Father's Day is a great time to hit the beach! Whether setting up on the sand or taking a picnic to the park, make the trip easier with this wagon, which earned the approval of the Good Housekeeping Institute. The experts there were impressed with the price, along with its ability to hold up to 150 pounds.
He's definitely going to keep all the cards from his first Father's Day, so make it a good one. Here's a Mandalorian-inspired 3D card that features baby Yoda getting pushed by Boba Fett — the best father figure/child figure duo in the galaxy.
RELATED: The Best 'Star Wars' Gifts
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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