Happy Father's Day: Gift ideas for the #1 dad in your life
Father’s Day is June 20 this year, and let’s face it: Dad would just like a day off, please. Can you make that happen? Probably not, what with the grocery shopping and soccer lessons and Great Mount Laundry, but your guy’s understanding of that fact (never getting a day off, that is) is what makes him so great in the first place, right? The least we mamas can do is honour the importance of Dad’s presence in our families, and Birth Source has a few great ways to do that. No, we don’t stock iPads or barbeques, unfortunately, but we do have a few ideas that we happen to think are even better.
For dads-to-be
- If you’re crafty… A few homemade gift certificates for postpartum massages and sleep-in Saturdays will mean a lot for a dad-to-be who hears everywhere he goes that he’s going to be sore and tired for the rest of his life once the baby arrives. Yes, you’re going to be sore and tired, too, and you may not be up to redeeming the coupons as soon as he’d like, but making an effort to acknowledge the toll new parenthood will take on him will go far in terms of preserving your connection as partners, rather than just parents.
- If you’re not…Check out this month’s discussion of Gary Greenberg’s Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads. If this is his first time at the rodeo, we can guarantee your guys is going to appreciate the book’s tutorials about making emergency diapers out of tea towels and reading Sports Illustrated to your infant.
For new (and newish) dads
- If you’re crafty… There are several tutorials available online that can guide you in sewing a baby carrier specifically to your partner’s measurements and tastes. Why not whip up a soft structured carrier in a neutral canvas that will let Dad be both nurturing and rugged at the same time? If he’s not sold on the idea of a carrier, he might appreciate a homemade utility belt for the stroller that will help him organize his and Baby’s gear while out on the town.
- If you’re not… Birth Source carries the very dad-friendly (i.e., plain) Oh Snap! Baby Hawk ($140.00). This newest addition to the BabyHawk carrier line features click-lock adjustability and supportive webbing in place of long straps. Did we mention it’s plain? No pattern, no color, no reason at all to call it girly. It is meant for children between fifteen and forty-five pounds.
For experienced dads
- If you’re crafty…Corral the kids to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art for Dad’s office, entertainment room, or bathroom wall. Older kids will need no direction in what to create, but you can even incorporate a baby into the piece by dipping tiny footprints in paint and stamping them onto the canvas. The art itself will be so inexpensive (that is, free!) that you may even have enough in the bank to get it professionally framed.
- If you’re not…Check out the Durga Bernhard art print Papa Sings up the Story ($24.95). We’ve featured this print before in our Valentine’s Day gift guide because we love it just that much. This print really shows Dad how central he is to your family unit.
For grandpas
- If you’re crafty… Wouldn’t the grandpa in your life love a handmade (and, perhaps more importantly, functional) piece of art? Take the kids to your local pottery studio for a fun afternoon of decorating pottery specifically for Grandpa’s knick knacks, pen collection, or golf tees. The obvious bonus here is that you don’t have to be the crafty one to make this memorable gift happen.
- If you’re not…40 Uses for a Grandpa ($16.95) by Harriet ZIefert shows Grandpa that you heard him when he told you he’s not the rocking-chair type. Instead, the book is a great way for grandpas and grandchildren to bond over all the cool things Grandpa can do, especially when the kids are still young enough to think their elders are cool.
