The Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog

Expecting mothers have been whipping-up our GoodFather line of daddy gifts for their Valentine’s Day sweethearts as we approach February 14th, and many gift givers are asking me for additional gift ideas to pack with their GoodFather goodies. I’ll be sure to post a “Dr.MOZ Approved” gift list in a few weeks, but until then I thought I should offer a few tips on what not to get soon-to-be fathers this Valentine’s Day.

Below you’ll find the top three mistakes most often made when giving gifts to new dads:

1. Matching Sets: Do you remember the look on Ralphie’s face in A Christmas Story when he was given a bunny suit for Christmas? This is the same look you’ll get when presenting a grown man with an outfit that matches a baby T-shirt or onesie. It might seem cute at first, but trust me…men hate it. On that note, any gift idea that can be labeled as an “outfit” or “cute” should be reconsidered as well.
2. Frilly Diaper Bags: Whatever you do, don’t expect a new dad to carry bag that (a) looks like a purse (b) involves a kid’s cartoon character as seen above, or (c) has colors that he wouldn’t normally wear on his own clothing. If you do, you’ll find that he’ll empty the offending sack into a brown paper bag when no one is looking. There’s a name for pouch with no handles, emblazoned with “cute” designs…it’s called a purse.
3. Bad Dad T-shirts: Most guys love clever T-shirts as gifts, but I don’t know many men that would appreciate a shirt that declares to the world that they’ll be a bad father. We’ve all seen the shirts out there. They usually include illustrations of a new father doing something idiotic while attempting to feed the baby or change a diaper. Instead, go with something fun but positive.

In a nutshell, men like just about anything that would be entertaining and useful to a new dad. Modern fathers are a lot more involved than past generations, so pay close attention to the designs and colors found on your gift ideas. Many soon-to-be fathers are already nervous about their new roles without the ribbing, so stay clear of gifts that would make a new father feel like the butt of the joke.

Are you a dad that received a gift like one of those described above? If so, just click on the comments bubble above to share your gift story. All names and email addresses will remain anonymous to protect the poorly gifted.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ