Gifts for dads-to-be - ideas needed

[pattilou]

I'm running a one-day antenatal course in London next month (details below, in case you're interested) and may have some dads-to-be there. I have a goodie bag for everyone with lots of vouchers and samples, but they're all a bit girlie and I wanted to find something a bit more suitable for dads.

Any ideas of companies which sell products or services for dads? Anything you wish you'd known about? Anything you'd love to have been given as a gift?

The course (and I'm allowed to plug it as I've advertised properly in the classifieds section!) is a one-day course designed to complement the NCT / hospital classes. It's all about preparing for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent - dealing with guilt, perfectionism, finding the parenting style that's right for you and your baby, and making sure your relationships survive the transition. The next one is in Notting Hill on 3rd March and there are still a few places left, though they're filling fast. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

IME new dads are less interested in Baby Products than new mums, but ideas worth considering are

• slings other than the BabyBjorn type
• mini change kits after the fashion of the SkipHop Pronto that negate the need for a large nappy bag covered in gingham, bears etc
• latte holders for the pushchair (DH is desperate for one of these)

Pattilou - what sort of things are in the girlie selection? Are they all directly mum-related, or..? And what's the budget? How big are the gifts?

Maybe a dad-related book or magazine?

mag suggestion

book suggestion

Blokes like chocolate too. For us, it's just another great snack

Thanks for those suggestions. Have contacted FQ to see if they'd like to donate some free mags and/or some discount vouchers for subscriptions.

For the mums I've got vouchers for businesses selling lovely maternity wear and attractive maternity bras and underwear (there is such a thing, though I never knew that when I had my babies and slouched around in some hideous over-shoulder-boulder-holder), samples of natural body products and natural soaps - that kind of thing.

So far everything has been donated, so I haven't had to use up my (ever-decreasing) budget on this. It's a great way for companies to promote their products. But if I have to, I'll spend a little bit to make the dads feel included!

Patricia x

MrsB - can you get latte holders for pushchairs? cool! where? I want one...

Pattilou - nice thought. Often we blokes feel like spare parts at antenatal courses, as the focus is (naturally) on pregnancy and birth.

Wish I'd known about Steve Biddulph earlier.
Gift suggestion: Threshers/Wine Rack voucher

DrDaddy, that reminds me of when I had my babies (at St Mary's Paddington) and the labour rooms overlooked a Threshers. DH kept looking longingly out of the window. And that was before they were born...

Loving the sound of the latte holder for the pushchair. Anyone know where to get one?

Patricia x

latte holder here - sorry for the delay!

Thank you Mrs B - it looks great. Why have all the cool things been invented since I was at that stage???

Px

like latte, you mean?

Now you've got me thinking.... Blimey, I think latte may indeed have entered my world some time after my first was born (and in case you're wondering I'm not that old - it was 12 years ago) - I think I was a cappuccino girl then.

I've just come across a website called Babes with Babies which doesn't just focus on the mums - it has a section for dads with dads' gifts on it. Some of the stuff may not be right for your class but if any mums need good gift ideas for their other halves to ease the shock of a newborn baby then they can buy them the same changing bag Brad Pitt uses! it is called Jamie Espresso and looks lovely. If you can't have Brad Pitt himself...

I would buy them a copy of "Fatherhood" by Marcus Berkmann, which is a) funny b) about parenting and therefore unique.