Best Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for New Dads

How to Make that New Dad Feel Special

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.