2020 Holiday Gift Guide for New or Expecting Dads

Below are a few practical and thoughtful gifts to support partners preparing for or transitioning into new parenthood. I tried to find gifts that are useful beyond their initial use for labor/delivery support and the postpartum period. I hope these suggestions are helpful! Also check out my guides for new and expecting moms for more ideas partners might like too (like this, this, and this). Happy shopping.

If there is one thing we learned from having a baby during a pandemic it is to pack so much food for your hospital stay. Without visitors bearing food and many hospitals prohibiting delivery, you should plan to fill this cooler ($80) up with meals and snacks!

A portable speaker ($36.99) to use during labor or to play soothing sounds for baby wherever you are.

A neck pillow ($19.90) to (somewhat) ease uncomfortable hospital room snoozes and for the obvious travel use once this pandemic is over.

Rumpl travel blanket ($99) - this warm and cozy option clips behind you to keep it from slipping down if you’re, say, sleeping in an upright hospital chair. It also folds up super tiny which makes it convenient to pack in your hospital bag.

If you’re planning to sleep at the hospital you need an eyemask. I like this weighted option ($32).

My hospital had so many rules about my partner sleeping over, including the fact that he couldn’t use the in-room bathroom and had to use a bathroom at the end of the hall instead. He also made lots of trips to the NICU and to get water for me- slip on shoes ($99) - or what I’d call “houseshoes” makes hospital life just a little easier.

A dopp kit ($30) to make packing up your hospital bag easy.

A backpack/diaper bag - like this one ($100), this one ($116) or this backpack insert ($20) to convert their existing bag.

Assuming your partner may be taking over more of the meal prep during the postpartum period, may I suggest this thermometer ($99) - a total game changer in our house - this apron ($85), a vacusealer ($100) or a convection oven/air fryer ($280)

A lidded coffee mug ($25) to keep coffee hot and keep it from spilling when baby tries to slap it out of your hands

Your partner or labor support person is usually in charge of updating friends and family throughout labor and delivery, make sure they doesn’t run out of batteries with this power bank ($40).

Similarly, this electronics accessory kit ($50) will keep cords and wires organized and easily accessible.

Poor sleep, stress, and a disruption to normal self care can mean aches and pains in the postpartum period for partners too. Gift this arnica balm ($18) with or without this ($399) from the new moms gift guide.

Sweatpants for lounging around the house with the new baby. I can personally attest that these ($88) and these ($84) are insanely soft.

My husband said I should add the Oculus VR ($299) so here it is.