A dad’s first Father’s Day is one he’ll never forget, so give him a special gift that honors his important new role as a father. As a new parent, life is all about the baby, all the time—as it should be! But parents are people too, so your gift will be more meaningful if you take the new dad’s personal interests into the picture too.
A personalized gift is a top choice for the first Father’s Day, but there are many other options. Whether you’re a friend or a relative of a new father, or a new mom who wants to give her partner a sweet gift “from the baby,” the following gift ideas are sure to make him smile.
Personalized gifts for new dads
A customized first Father’s Day gift shouts out “I care” because it requires preplanning. Whether you inscribe his name and “new dad” title on something, or the new baby’s birthdate, personalized gifts are a thoughtful and much-appreciated expression of love or friendship. The range of gifts you can customize is vast, from engraved jewelry to everyday items that, with a personal message, will trigger happy memories every single day.
Here are some ideas for personalized gifts:
- A “dugout” mug crafted from a wooden baseball bat, and engraved with a monogram, team logo, name, or message
- A fancy pen set—perhaps a set of engraved Parker Pens—to elevate to-do lists or journal entries
- A watch (you pick the price and style) with his name or the baby’s birthdate engraved on the back that he will see whenever he puts on the watch
- A pocket knife—Laguioles from France are super cool—with an engraving on the blade
Father’s day gifts for foodie dads
Dad may be a cook who loves whipping up meals, or his favorite thing to make might be reservations. Either path opens up a range of “foodie” Father’s Day gifts. Even dads get to eat dinner, so consider offering a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant that is child friendly, or personalized kitchen tools like chef’s knives.
Here are some other great gift ideas for new dads who are food aficionados:
- A highly coveted gadget or appliance, such as a Vitamix blender, KitchenAid stand mixer, or a sous vide machine
- A cookbook duo comprising a baby and toddler cookbook plus a volume that appeals to his favorite cooking style
- A gourmet gift basket filled with fancy treats from a particular cuisine, such as Italian or Thai
- A box of gourmet chocolates, just for him
Custom photo book gifts for sentimental new dads
Showcase the precious moments from a new dad’s first experiences of fatherhood with a hardcover custom photo book. According to Dr. Christie Chung, Cognitive Psychologist and Provost at Palo Alto University, “the reason why photo books are powerful is because they immediately bring back memories very quickly. You don't even have to read anything—you could look at a picture and those memories just come rushing back to you.”
Pick a design theme from Mixbook’s Father’s Day collection, then take him through the first months of being a dad, one amazing photo at a time. It’s easier than you might think, and the idea could be the start of a great Father’s Day tradition.
Best Dad Ever is a handsome theme with an elegant color scheme of solid grays and deep, mossy greens. These are accentuated with woodgrain backgrounds and delicate linear accents in gold. Add thoughtful text elements that complement favorite photos.
Another top choice is Mod Patterns Father’s Day. It sets up a mid-century mod aesthetic, with clean lines and sophisticated peach-and-navy color scheme. Or, if dad’s into dad jokes, consider Punny Illustrated Dad Storybook. The colors are bright and happy and there are text puns aplenty (e.g. “You’re one in a melon” with watermelon illustrations).
Here are some other best-selling photo book themes that make the best gifts for new dads:
Parenting gear gifts for dads
A new dad might long for some parenting gear of his own, or perhaps some parenting products designed with a more neutral or masculine aesthetic. These dad-focused baby accessory items make excellent gift ideas for new dads.
Here are some suggestions:
- A diaper bag marketed to dads in a plain, dark, or neutral color
- A comfortable backpack carrier for hiking that isn’t baby blue or soft pink
- A tough jogging stroller so the baby can join him while he exercises
Gifts for the coffee-drinking dad
If the new dad in your life loved coffee before the baby arrived—and, with it, all those sleepless nights—it’s a good bet that his coffee appreciation has grown considerably! Embrace his love of java by choosing Father’s Day gifts with this theme, such as these:
- A personalized “Dad’ mug—a first Father’s Day rite of passage, available almost everywhere in countless styles
- An AeroPress coffee maker, acclaimed for its ease of use and brewing excellence
- A French press, a classic for good reason, and much less work than setting up other types of coffee machines
- A heated coffee mug or mug warmer set, because parenting a new baby means you will often forget about your hot drink
- A classic Thermos or similar vacuum bottle to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours
DIY gift ideas for handy new dads
Fixing things is such a dad thing, so if you’re looking for a gift for a new dad who loves to fix things around the house, it opens up a whole new world of gift possibilities. Consider a new tool or gadget that makes household fix-it tasks easier. Even if he wasn’t into DIY before the baby, something about the title “Dad” might bring out the handyman in him.
Try one of these great Father’s Day gift ideas:
- A quality multi-use tool he can keep in his pocket to screw and unscrew battery compartments in kids’ toys
- A toolbox filled with baby paraphernalia for a punny joke
- A new and needed set of screwdrivers or wrenches to enhance his tool collection
Gift ideas for dad’s office
A dad’s a dad, even when he’s at the office. Help him keep this perspective with office-appropriate photos of his new son or daughter. Mixbook’s Home Decor prints offer a wide variety of elegant options that will get you there.
Keep the memories close at hand by creating acrylic prints of favorite photos to decorate the new dad’s office walls. Baby alone, baby with dad, baby with mom or a complete family photo—the modern glass-like finish shows off bold color with brilliant clarity.
If you think dad would prefer something smaller but equally striking, turn those photos into free-standing acrylic blocks that look great on desks or windowsills. Mixbook also offers metal prints for transforming photographs into gift-worthy home decor.
Relaxation gifts for father’s day
All new parents need relaxation time, even if it’s just 20 minutes between childcare tasks. Help a new dad get down time with any of these gift ideas:
- A foot spa
- Plush robe and slippers
- Elevated loungewear, such as super-soft tees, sweatpants, and fuzzy socks
- A weighted blanket, so that even the shortest nap feels extra restorative
- Reusable earplugs that dampen noises (like baby cries) without totally blocking them out
- An electronic eye massager
- A newspaper or magazine subscription
- A massage gun
- A gift certificate to a spa
Gift experiences for a new dad
Many people believe that investing in experiences over material possessions leads to more cherished memories. If the new dad in your life is one of them, an experience-based gift may be the best. If you know an experience he is longing to have, there’s your answer. Otherwise, pick something that seems to work with his life.
Is he daring and bold? Maybe a course in race car driving, skydiving, a hot air balloon ride, or a first lesson in flying a small plane. For cultured dads, consider a museum membership, or concert or theater tickets. Outdoorsmen might like a trek on horseback or rounds of golf. And if you can’t think of anything else, almost everyone likes wine tasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give a Mixbook gift card as a Father’s Day gift?
It’s a great idea! Anyone on your gift list is likely to be thrilled by the opportunity to create their own customized photo book or home decor item, turning their favorite memories into something real.
Gift cards are terrific gift ideas if you are late getting started. Unlike most of Mixbook’s products, gift cards are digital. Just log in, choose an amount, and add their email. We'll deliver the gift card straight to their inbox.
What if I want a Father’s Day card with a photo on it instead of a gift card?
Yes, yes, and yes again. Mixbook will help you create personalized cards for any occasion, including Father’s Day. The Man, the Myth, the Legend is among the coolest, but there are more traditional cards, whimsical cards, and even superhero cards that would work well too. You pick the design and the photo, then leave the rest to us.
Where should I go for even more Father’s Day gift ideas?
Browsing the customized products offered by Mixbook might turn up something that we didn’t mention in the article but suits a new dad to a tee. Otherwise, check out one of these Father’s Day gift articles.
Does it take a long time for Mixbook’s hardcover photo books to be printed and processed?
Choosing your photos and your preferred design may be the longest step in the Mixbook photo book process. Once you are happy with your creation and submit your order, it usually takes us 1-2 business days to process and print them.
How long does it take for a photo book to be delivered?
When it comes to delivery, you are the boss. You can select the type of delivery that works for you, including economy, standard, expedited, or rush delivery. Economy costs least and takes the most time, while rush is the fastest and most expensive.
Go to our delivery page to get an estimate of how long delivery of your item will take under each of these delivery types and how much it will cost.
Let’s celebrate Father’s Day
Whether you are planning ahead or running out of time, a perfect and meaningful gift for Father’’s Day is waiting for you at Mixbook. We specialize in personalized gifts that call up today’s precious memories any time, whether it’s next week, or the next decade.
