Wondrously Childlike Gifts For The New Dad

Babies are so adorable! And so very much trouble. They’re always hungry, often crying and never sleeping. But here’s a little secret: fatherhood can be a great excuse to gear up. Oh man. I’m totally lactating.

1. Evoz Baby Monitor

The most basic thing you need to do with a new kid is make sure the little fella is OK. But that doesn’t mean you want to stay right by their side 24 hours a day. New dads need a break and a beer. The Evoz system lets you use either a standalone audio monitor or any iOS device with a microphone. It tracks how long your child is asleep and can send you text alerts (or call) when your baby is crying. But the best part is that it doesn’t rely on radio signals. It uploads audio through a central server and can broadcast it to any other iOS device. Which means you can listen in not just from the other room, but the backyard, the office, and yes, the bar. $US180 for audio monitor plus one year of service [Evoz]

3. Sony MDR-NC100D

Thank God. Baby finally asleep. Your wife has the helm. NOW IS THE TIME FOR NAPPING. Whether you want to drown out the sounds of your slumbering parter’s sleep-deprived snoring, or the cries of a persistently wakeful tiny human, these pocketable noise cancelling in-ear headphones from Sony will serve up silence when you need it most. $299 RRP in Australia. [Sony]

4. Clever Coffee Dripper

But in reality, no matter how much you want sleep, you’re not going to get it. New parents need a lot of coffee. No, no. More than that. They need a perpetual supply. A never-ending dram. Infinite beans and water, constantly fuelling those long nights and drowsy days. But that doesn’t mean you need to drink crummy coffee from a crappy drip. Not only will the Clever make delicious, perfect brew, but it’s dead simple to operate, even one-handed. Just add grinds, hot water, let it sit, then place it on top of a mug for café-quality cups. $US15. [Sweet Maria's]

5. Bob Ironman Stroller

If staying awake via chemical means ain’t your thing, there’s always exercise. Get your heart pumping. Move those blood cells around your body. Rolling with the BOB Ironman will keep you lively and (even better) keep you fit. It’s lightweight (at 10kg, which sounds massive, but for a stroller, not so much), has great hubs with sealed cartridge ball bearings the wheels spin fast and free and even has three inches of travel if you want to take it on rough terrain. Also? The high visibility yellow will protect the babe from traffic, while making you an obvious target of envy from other pops. $US409. [BOB]

6. Yepp Mini Child Carrier

But maybe running isn’t your thing. You can still roll out strong with this baby carrier from Yepp. It hooks onto the stem of your bike, to keep the kid in front of you as you ride your way through Candyland. Or, you know, wherever. The bottom line is that the soft EVA polymer seat will cradle your kid’s caboodle in comfort, while at 4kg it isn’t going to turn your ride into a haul. A shoulder harness and foot straps will keep baby from falling, and because it’s rated up to 15kg, you can stap ‘em in until they’re three years old. Finally, thanks to delightful Dutch design, the Mini will keep your bike looking boss. $US140. [Yepp]

7. Sherpani Rumba

Run. Ride. However you make it happen, the important thing for a new dad to remember is that you’ve got to get the hell out of the house. You’ll be happier. Your partner will be happier. And ultimately, your baby will be happier too. And if you want to get way out, the best way to do it is to hit the trail and commune with nature. And for those long head-clearing walks in the woods, you’ll need some support. Sherpani’s pack holds kids up to 32kg and provides 2800 cubic centimetres of room. Plenty of space to pack in the little one, and a big lunch. And because it’s loaded with comfort features — from a sun shade to stirrups to bucket seats — you can hike off knowing your child will stay cosy no matter how far you roam. $US250 [Sherpani]

8. Milwaukee M12 2410-22 Cordless Drill

And here’s the thing: You need that outdoor stuff because you are going to spend a lot of time inside. The next few months are going to be a very special time, when you’re going to get to know IKEA so intimately you can navigate it with the lights off. You’ll be putting together cribs, chests of drawers and cabinets. Attaching baby gates. Putting on fasteners to secure those wayward drawers and kitchen cabinets. This 12V drill driver will save your wrists from the tyranny of screws and bolts. It’s cordless, nice and compact, and has a hard-shell carrying case so you can tuck it away out of sight. And look, bottom line, what kind of dad doesn’t have a drill? $US150. [Milwaukee]

9. Star Trek Light Up Feeding System

All your baby things shouldn’t be about utility. Once you get that high chair put together (suggestion: try cursing at it more) it’s time to eat. Baby stuff tends to be overwhelmingly cute. Too cute. Way too cute. What you need is a strong dose of pop culture in the form of this Enterprise feeding system. The spoon is the Enterprise itself, while the bib features flashing lights and art from the show. But its strongest feature at the blinking lights on the craft’s nacelles, which will keep your kid peering at the spoon until you’re able to successfully dock a payload of Gerber in his or her tongue. $US25. [Think Geek]

10. Rickshaw Large Zero Messenger Bag

And the ultimate question you will find yourself facing at the end of the day (aside from the existential ones) is always the same: where am I going to put all this stuff. The answer, for much of it at least, is a good bag with ample room. Look, a new dad has to get a lot of stuff that’s just for baby (see, pretty much everything above). But a nice bag will pull double duty. First, it can be your nappy bag. Purpose-made nappy bags are dumb. All anyone needs is a bag with room for nappies, wipes and bottles and a few pockets to separate the stuff. Second, look, it can be tough being a new dad! New dads need a little reward. A little something just for themselves. This bag will help. $US90. [Rickshaw]

Still haven’t found the right present? Don’t worry, we’re here all month with a new gift guide every day — right up until the last minute. To see ‘em all, head on over to our gift guides.