Best Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for New Dads

You can turn any Valentine's Day for a new dad into a great memory with some simple, yet thoughtful, gift ideas. Most new dads are in awe of their baby for months after the birth, so these are some great Valentine's Day gift ideas to help him remember those warm and happy feelings of his first Valentine's Day as a dad, or to help him relax after those late nights trying to stop the newborn from crying.

Hand/Foot Print Craft - This is a very simple and inexpensive way to home make a sincere Valentine's Day keepsake for that new dad. Most craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc.) all sell some sort of kit to make this possible. There are typically two types of kits - one with some sort of glass keepsake (a small plate, mug, etc.) or a cement tile kit.

The glass kits typically come with a small, white plate (about salad plate size) and special markers that will not come off of the plate. You can trace the newborns hand (or foot) on to the plate as a permanent reminder of how small he/she was that first Valentine's Day. Write a sweet message around the hand (or foot) - We Love You; Best New Dad; Happy Valentine's Day, Dad; etc. You can also buy a small, wooden stand that you can sit the plate on to display; this is a great way for a new dad to show it off at work on his desk! I actually bought several of this style of kit at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for less than $10.00 a piece; we traced 3-year olds hands on to the plate almost a year ago, and they are still in great condition.

The cement kits are around the same price ($10.00), but can be a bit messy. They're literally a small bag of cement that you poor in to a mold and press the baby's hand or foot in to (while it is wet.) The cement hardens and you are left with a custom made tile; I have found these at multiple craft stores, and well-known convenient stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen's, and CVS.

Either of these options is a great Valentine's Day gift for that new dad in your life, but keep in mind that you are going to need a very laid back and still baby in order to do either of these. It is best if you have some help from someone else - someone to help trace the hand (or foot) while your hold your newborn in place.

Digital Picture Frame - All parents love to show off their kids, so this is a great Valentine's Day gift for any new dad. These frames play slideshows of pictures that you upload to it with a memory card straight from your camera. You can find these at any major store (Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) I recommend any of the Philips or Kodak brands; I have had a digital picture frame by Kodak for over a year, and it still looks and works perfectly. The frames come in a variety of colors (red, black, white, and brown are the most common) and range in price from $50.00 and up, depending upon the size and brand.

If you want the dad to be able to display this frame on his desk at work, make sure you get a smaller frame - 5 to 6 inches would be ideal. If you want to make this gift even more personalized, take some pictures of the baby in a Valentine's Day outfit or laying near a printed sign reading "I love you, Dad" (or something cute in that sense.) You can pre-load pictures on to the frame so that this Valentine's Day gift is ready to be shown-off as soon as it comes out of the box.

Digital Picture Key Chain - Much like the digital picture frame, this is a great Valentine's Day gift for a new dad who wants to brag about his baby. Coby makes a black one that is currently under $25.00 at Wal-Mart; although the screen is small, it is still a great way for a dad to show multiple pictures off to friends, co-workers, family, etc. without having to pull out a bulky photo album. Again, like with the digital picture frame, you can load pictures of the baby on to key chain so it is ready to go on Valentine's Day.

Massage Gift Card - Most likely a new dad has not exactly been getting his normal amount of sleep and is probably downright exhausted from taking care of a baby. So, why not get him a gift card (or, certificate) for a massage? This is a great way to say "thank you" for helping to take care of the baby, and a wonderful way for him to go relax for a while. Many places also offer male pamper packages now (facial, manicure, pedicure, massage, etc.) Of course, only you will know what will truly relax the new dad on Valentine's Day this year; but, this is a great way to help any dad get some time to himself and get rid of that cramp in his neck from all of those late night bottle feedings.

Or, if you are the wife of the new dad and are trying to keep things under budget, you can always have a family member or friend watch the baby and set up a romantic massage night at your own house. Buy some massage oils, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries. Chances are, it has probably been a while since the two of you spent some quiet time together without the baby, so take advantage of that on Valentine's Day!

Date Night - Find a sitter and take the new dad out for a Valentine's Day gift; this is great if you are also the new mom. What better way to spend a Valentine's Day than some one-on-one time with your husband? Go to dinner and a movie out. Or, if you want to incorporate the baby, you can always stay home, order take-in, and rent a movie that you know your husband will enjoy. But, most new parents typically need a break every now and then, so find someone you trust to watch the baby and go out for a night together!

Just put some time and thought in to a Valentine's Day gift for any new dad this year; only you know the dad well enough to know what exactly he would like - whether it be a keepsake, some relaxation time, or a night out on the town - it will mean the world to him that you thought of him on Valentine's Day!