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Being one of the best dads today is to be a kind-of modern-day renaissance man who knows how to quickly (and cleanly) change a diaper, sings along with both old-school jams and the newest hits, understands soccer’s offside rule, can and will gladly cook for carnivores and vegans alike, takes proper care of his skin, bakes bread, loves a good workout, builds furniture without much fuss, will never turn down a bubble bath and isn’t ashamed to admit he’s lost and needs directions.
Not only is a leveled-up dad a benefit to his family, and society in general, but it also means that the best gifts for new dads are now far easier and more fun to find, because the choices are virtually limitless — from a crackling candle to small batch coffee, and hi-tech gear to a hot sauce making kit.
The brand-new dad in your life will probably say that gifts for dads aren’t necessary and that the baby is the best gift of all. He’s not lying, but still, it’s nice to give him something useful, fun and beautiful to make his life smell, taste, function and be just plain better. With that in mind, here are some amazing gifts for any awesome new dad, most under $50, with many far more affordable than that.
And, if there are more great guys in your life who deserve presents, also check out our suggestions for the best gifts for father-in-laws, gifts for grandpas and best Father's Day gifts for newbie and veteran dads alike.
We dads are a sentimental bunch. Even those with a crunchy outer shell will melt when they see photos and videos of their kids growing up, laughing and participating in sports or their other passions. With this affordable smart frame, dads, along with friends and family, can send pics to the frame remotely and see them pop up immediately in the slideshow.
It doesn’t matter if the new dad in your life is an amateur handyman or struggles to assemble the most basic baby furniture, he’s going to love wearing this magnetic wristband. It’ll make him look like a superhero and is practical enough to help dad never lose a screw, washer, nut, bolt or IKEA Allen wrench!
Diaper bags, like dads themselves, have come a long way. This handsome backpack-style bag not only has storage for all of a new dad's essential supplies — bottles, wipes, backup outfits and burp clothes — and has charging ports. Best of all, this bag converts into a pack-n-play for babies on the go.
This is a classy clubhouse for his phone to charge and all of his things — rings, wristwatches, fit bit, cufflinks, glasses, keys, earbuds and more — to hang out together. It's a perfect antidote for the chaos that happens when the baby comes home.
Commemorate the day he went from dude to dad with this stunning wooden watch that can be customized with a meaningful engraving of your choice.
He might not be hitting the course as much as he'd like, but that doesn't mean his game has to suffer. The portable mat allows him to practice anywhere. And with over 15,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can't go wrong.
The new dad in your life may not have realized it just yet, but he probably will soon: eventually, everything will hurt. This soft and comfortable weighted heating pad will help to soothe his sore neck and shoulders.
When they wear these coordinating outfits, everyone will know that he and his mini-me are part of a package deal. The set comes in several colors.
Hi-tech, impossibly cool looking, and functional — no, we're not describing the new dad in your life. This is a wallet he'll love sliding into his back pocket knowing that RFID signals are being blocked and his valuable credit card information is safe and secure.
With four different pepper varieties and seven recipes included, dads can customize hot sauce to their own spice level with this rad DIY kit.
No need for earbuds or headphones on those runs, hikes or long stroller walks when he's wearing this handsome beanie. He’ll be able to stream favorite tunes, engrossing new podcast episodes and audiobooks while keeping his head warm in almost any weather.
If he is always quoting lyrics from Wu-Tang Clan, put his hip-hop knowledge to the test. This music trivia deck has 150 cards urging guys to rap and rhyme their way to victory.
New dads are likely to see, step over and unfortunately step on, many baby blocks, but none of those blocks will be as special as this keepsake — a customized, engraved wooden block with your baby's name, weight, birthdate and time.
Delicious coffee that makes an impact in the community makes a stellar gift. This Black-owned business gives 5% of its profits toward youth programming, workforce development and eradicating youth homelessness. With every sip, he will know that his morning Joe is making a difference.
Let’s be honest, T-shirts designed for guys are too often a graphic design horror show, with a variety of fonts, colors and every inch of printable space being maxed-out. That’s what makes the sleek DA DA and RAD DAD shirts from Inkopious special — it’s got so much minimalist style!
Historically speaking, men have been terrible at taking care of themselves. Encourage the new dad in your life to start prioritizing skincare with the help of the energizing face wash. Adding this quick wash to his daily deodorant-shave-cologne routine will set dad up for a brilliant day.
This new National Geographic book gives thousands of ideas for the next big adventure for him, and soon, his kid, to find the best campsites, overlooks, and trails in the U.S. and Canada. There are also essential tips and advice, along with history worth knowing, for exploring stunning natural sights.
Pop open a bottle of wine, laugh at James Acaster's Netflix comedy specials and kiss on the couch while some music plays, all without worrying about waking the baby. This portable white noise machine, highly rated by the Good Housekeeping Institute, will have dad’s baby sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware of the life and love continuing to be enjoyed outside their nursery room door.
Vinyl hasn't made a comeback so much as it’s been embraced by a whole new generation as undeniably the best way to hear and experience recorded music. Buy him a vinyl record (or two) of his favorite albums, old or new. From Miles Davis to De La Soul, SZA to Zach Bryan, most artists from yesterday and today have and are releasing their music on vinyl.
Some album covers are gorgeous pieces of art in and of themselves. For example, a Depeche Mode Violator LP, with that legendary and evocative red rose, is going to look amazing on the wall above dad's turntable!
Jeff is a dad of two daughters, an avid traveler, a photographer, an author and a freelance writer who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and their cats. In addition to Good Housekeeping, he's written for Parents, Fodor's, Food and Wine, Real Simple and Reader’s Digest, among other print and online publications. Jeff is the publisher of the quarterly literary magazine, Stanchion, and his book, Streets Cats and Where to Find Them, will be published by Running Press in the Summer of 2025.
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