22 Best Gifts for New Dads to Celebrate His New Role

Hands-free and cordless, AirPods are a dad-friendly splurge. After a one-tap setup, AirPods stay connected to all his Apple gadgets. Thanks to voice-activated Siri, he can do a quick Google search or make a phone call hands-free. (Just keep AirPods out of baby’s reach: Shiny little buds could look like candy or a toy.)

Take Dad's music and at-home entertainment (read: necessary) needs to the next level with the JBL Flip 6. This incredibly popular bluetooth speaker improves on its predecessor (the JBL Flip 5) in a number of ways, but perhaps most notably, it has a more impressive sound quality. Plus, it's waterproof, provides 12 hours of playtime and can even be paired with other speakers for parties. Any music lover will enjoy this device, but it’s also incredibly easy to use (unpack, plug it in and play what you want) and has six simple buttons.

(Need something more portable? The JBL Clip 5 is a compact speaker that still packs a ton of sound.) 

Dimensions: 7 x 2.6 x 2.8 inches

Weight: 1.21 pounds

Prepare for your husband to rock these joggers all through his parental leave and beyond. My other half lives in this pair, making it an automatic gift-giving win for me. These are definitely pricey, but the quality and comfort are simply unmatched. They’re available in 10 colors and sizes XS to XXXL.

Nothing says new dad status like carrying your little one. And while there are plenty of different carriers out there, BabyBjörn’s products might just be the most comfortable — particularly the jersey version. The best part: The carrier is machine washable, which means all of the inevitable spit-ups coming its way don’t stand a chance.

Age range: 0 to approximately 12 months (or until baby reaches a weight of 24 pounds and/or a height of 29.5 inches)

Weight limit: 7 to 24 pounds

Height limit: 21 to 29.5 inches

Material: 80 percent polyester, 16 percent cotton and 4 percent elastane (for the 3D jersey style); 100 percent polyester (for the 3D mesh style); 100 percent cotton (for the satin-woven cotton style)

If his caffeine vice is coffee, this dad likely already relies on a strong brew or shot of espresso to power through the day. Elevate his morning routine with this set-and-forget-it milk frother. Dreo’s new countertop appliance replaces the laborious method (and loud!) task of delicious foam, no matter his dietary preferences. All he has to do is select the preferred thickness (thin, medium or thick) and type of milk (whole, half-and-half, almond, coconut, soy or oat). There’s even an option to add in sweeteners or flavors, like chocolate or protein powder. Now, he’ll be able to treat the entire family to cappuccinos and lattes in one go — and not just on the weekends. It’s also dishwasher safe, so he doesn’t have to worry about washing it by hand after each use.

After a heartbreaking loss to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, the least I could do was stock up on more Mets onesies for our son. I mean, what’s a better pick-me-up than playing dress-up with your little one? This set of two onesies is perfect for my little Mets fan, and it’s just one example of the many sports teams’ baby items you can find on the Fanatics website.

Security and safety are top of mind for any new dad. Give him some peace of mind with Ring’s five-piece system (the kit includes a base station, contact sensor, motion detector, keypad and range extender). Ring will send an alert to his smartphone whenever doors or windows open in the house. Staying secure is easy, too, since the tech works with Amazon Alexa. Want more? You can add on professional, 24/7 monitoring for $20 per month.

Dimensions: 6.65 X 6.65 X 1.46 inches (base station); 4.13 X 4.41 X 0.75 inches (keypad); 1.56 X 2.09 X 0.55 inches (contact sensor); 2.6 X 2.6 X 1.53 inches (motion detector); 1.86 X 3.19 X 1.66 inches (range extender)

Something new parents have little time for? Cooking. Dad will love an Instant Pot to help him whip up delicious meals in, well, an instant! He can cut down on takeout and stovetop stress-outs with this versatile pressure cooker that sautés, steams and cooks in record time, not to mention doing extra duty as a yogurt maker (perfect for baby's first breakfasts!). With overheat protection, he won't have to worry about getting distracted during meal prep — the Instant Pot will automatically self-regulate as needed.

Capacity: 6 quarts

Dimensions: 13.4 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches

Weight: 11.8 pounds

Reading stories is one of our favorite parts of the day, and these Wonderbly books have a sweet story and personalized language that includes your husband and baby’s name. If you have more than one child, you can feature up to four children’s names and characters, and you can even include a custom dedication. Another major plus, especially for tired new moms like me? You can pay to have them gift wrap it for you.

Because this is custom, this probably isn’t the best last-minute gift idea. That said, everything is printed and dispatched in two to four business days.

With a new baby, parents get a lot of gifts — most of them will be for baby. But Dad will love a package of brisket, sirloin steak, bacon, ground beef and more delivered to the doorstep. With Fresh Direct, you’re not just giving the gift of meat but also the gift of avoiding the "What’s for dinner tonight?" question.

Parents know all too well that the years go by in a flash. To help the dad in your life remember all the cherished moments, consider a custom photo book. Fill it with some of his favorite pictures and you've got a failproof present. Also nice: This brand's photo books are made from post-consumer recycled paper and a tree is planted with every order.

Hey, they’re called “dad hats” for a reason! This one shows the year he took on this momentous new role, and happy customers share that it’s a solid quality. Fair warning: The hat didn’t fit well for all dads, and it’s recommended that you hand wash it.

Grilling and gadget-obsessed husbands will go wild for this best-selling wireless meat thermometer. The probe pairs with an app, so he can read a quick and accurate temperature on his phone from as far as 600 feet away. However, some customers warned that it works better when you’re closer to your meat.

If you're looking for a more sentimental gift, look no further than this sweet keepsake frame. This sweet present lets parents preserve their newborn's handprints and footprints and a couple photos, all in a lovely, frame. You can do the prints together after Dad opens the present, or give it to him already finished. This is an especially sweet idea for new dads who may not have treasured keepsakes like this quite yet.

When a relative was expecting, I gifted her husband this adorable (and super cozy) babywearing hoodie. Seraphine has one for moms, and it was so popular they made one for the guys, too. The zip-on pouch attaches to either side of the hoodie, giving you more room to hold baby in a carrier. When baby outgrows the baby carrier, you can simply remove that extra panel and wear it as a regular hoodie.

A top-rated parenting book designed just for dad, The First Time Dad's Pregnancy Handbook is organized by month and explains everything he can expect and how to support you throughout your pregnancy (and after baby's arrival). He can feel more prepared with important questions to ask the OB at each appointment, and there are some lighthearted, funny insights, too. Moms in the What to Expect community also said their husbands loved how it was straightforward and short enough to hold their attention. 

Book length: 292 pages

Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches

Raise your hand if you’re not the cook in your family! Just me? If your husband is a pro in the kitchen, snag this recipe book that’s equal parts chic and functional. He can use it to jot down family recipes, or baby’s go-to meals when you start solids. To add personalization, you can change the preset title (“Dad’s Kitchen”), and add a photo of your husband and baby, too. Eventually, it’ll become a keepsake you can pass down for generations.

As with most personalized gifts, Papier warns that it’s challenging to return this particular item.

At first glance, this looks like a luxury backpack. In reality, it’s a luxury diaper bag backpack that dads love. This comes with an easy-to-wash changing pad, two main interior compartments and lots of pockets to take everything on the go. For an extra $20, you can also personalize it with up to three letters; might I suggest “DAD?”

I can’t tell you the number of times my husband and I have quoted The Office, especially over the past year as new parents (“I felt much stronger yesterday” is one of our go-tos after a sleepless night). So, this Regional Manager shirt and Assistant to the Regional Manager onesie set is at the top of my list this year.

The gift that keeps on giving, this 100% premium Turkish cotton robe is hailed as one of the comfiest options on the market. It also comes in 10 colors and patterns (how sleek are the limited-edition stripes?), and sizes XS to XL. Psst, it’s also highly recommended among postpartum moms, so make sure to get one for yourself, too!

While many raved about its high quality, some shared that the material started wearing down and fraying after several washes.

Making time for quality workouts or a commute to the gym isn’t exactly easy once you have a baby. That’s where Aaptiv — with its 2,500 (!) workout classes (think: running, strength training, cardio, indoor cycling, boxing, yoga and meditation) and built-in workout playlists — comes in. With the app, he can also focus on new goals like running a race or losing weight.

Other memberships that might better suit his interests are Peloton and Tempo Fit. 

Did your husband miss Comic-Con this year? If so, this is the gift for him: Choose between a magazine (19 photos, 10 captions and 14 pages for $65) or hardcover (38 photos, 19 captions and 30 pages for $125), and then create your own title and theme and write down captions for each photo. From there, an artist will edit everything to look like a real comic book.

Keep in mind that you’ll get a proof for this product within two business days, and it should arrive about two weeks after you’ve submitted your approval.

Freelance writer Cassie Shortsleeve originally contributed to this article.