Baby's First Father's Day: Ideas, Photos & Traditions to Start
Handprint crafts, coupon books, photo ideas, and sentimental gifts that new dads actually keep forever — all doable with a tiny baby.
By TeachToddler Editorial Team · Updated April 11, 2026 · Seasonal
🖐️ Handprint and Footprint Keepsakes
Nothing captures how impossibly small your baby is right now like a handprint or footprint. These crafts take 10 minutes but become some of the most treasured items a dad will ever own. Here are the best ways to make them.
- Framed handprint art: Press baby's hand into non-toxic washable paint (Crayola washable finger paint works well) and stamp onto white cardstock. Write "Happy First Father's Day" and the date underneath, then frame it. A simple 8x10 frame from a dollar store makes it gift-ready.
- Footprint card: Fold cardstock in half. Stamp baby's footprint on the front. Inside, write a message "from baby" like: "I'm only [X weeks/months] old but I already know I hit the jackpot with you, Dad." Sign with baby's name and the date.
- Handprint mug: Buy a plain white ceramic mug and use dishwasher-safe acrylic paint or a mug-painting kit. Press baby's handprint onto the mug, let dry, and bake according to kit instructions. Dad can use it for his morning coffee every day.
- Clay hand/foot cast: Air-dry clay kits (like Sculpey or KeaBabies) let you press baby's hand or foot into clay, let it dry for 24–48 hours, and display it on a shelf or desk. These make stunning keepsakes and are easier than paint with a squirmy newborn.
- Timing tip: Do paint crafts when baby is drowsy or just finished eating — a relaxed baby gives cleaner prints. Have wet wipes and a damp cloth within arm's reach. Footprints are easier than handprints for newborns since babies naturally clench their fists.
📒 Coupon Book From Baby
A coupon book is free to make, genuinely useful, and lets the new dad cash in on the things he actually needs most during those exhausting early months. Hand-write or print these on cardstock and staple them together.
- "Sleep-In Pass" — Dad gets to sleep until he wakes up naturally on a Saturday or Sunday. No alarms, no wake-ups, no guilt. This is the single most appreciated coupon by every new dad surveyed.
- "Solo Outing Pass" — A guilt-free afternoon to do whatever he wants: golf, gym, coffee shop, see a friend, sit in his car in silence. Whatever recharges his battery.
- "Favorite Meal Night" — Baby's other parent handles bedtime while dad gets his favorite takeout or home-cooked meal, eaten hot and uninterrupted.
- "Long Shower Pass" — No "is the baby crying?" interruptions. A full 20-minute shower with no time pressure. Luxury for a new parent.
- "Brag Hour" — One hour where dad gets to show baby photos to anyone he wants without being told "you already showed me that one."
- "TV Remote Control" — Dad picks what the family watches for an entire evening. Sports, documentaries, whatever he wants.
Pro Tip: Make the coupons redeemable — give real deadlines ("expires December 31") and actually honor them when he cashes one in. The gesture only means something if it's a real commitment, not just a cute card.
📸 Photo Book and Video Montage
You've probably taken hundreds of photos in the first weeks or months. A curated collection specifically focused on dad and baby makes a powerful gift — especially because dads are often behind the camera, not in front of it.
- Photo book of dad's first months: Use Chatbooks, Shutterfly, or Artifact Uprising to compile 20–30 photos of dad with baby — hospital moments, first diaper change, skin-to-skin, napping together, silly faces. Add short captions: "3 AM bottle duty, and you never complained."
- Video montage: Compile short clips from your phone into a 2–3 minute video using iMovie, CapCut, or InShot. Include hospital footage, first bath, tummy time, dad singing to baby, and any "firsts" dad was present for. Add a sentimental song. Send it to him on Father's Day morning.
- Daddy-and-me matching outfit photo: Dress dad and baby in matching outfits (band t-shirts, sports jerseys, "Big Dude / Little Dude" sets) and take a posed photo. This becomes an annual tradition — the yearly matching photo shows baby growing while the tradition stays the same.
- Photo of baby holding a sign: Write "Happy First Father's Day, Daddy!" on a piece of paper or letterboard and photograph baby lying next to it or "holding" it. Frame it or text it to dad at midnight to start the day.
🎁 Experience Gifts and Sentimental Items
Physical gifts are nice, but experience gifts and sentimental letters are what dads remember most from their first Father's Day. These are the gifts that make grown men cry.
- Sentimental letter "from baby": Write a letter in baby's voice. Be specific: "You changed 847 diapers and only complained about 3." Include real moments from your early months together. Dads uniformly say this is the gift that meant the most to them.
- Favorite restaurant takeout + movie night: After baby goes to bed, set up dad's favorite takeout, his favorite drink, and a movie he's been wanting to watch. No phones, no chores, just a date night at home.
- Future event tickets: Buy tickets to a game, concert, or experience he'll love — something months out that gives him something to look forward to. Write a card: "From your kid, for when I'm old enough to babysit myself."
- Daddy-and-me class signup: Enroll in a baby swim class, music class, or baby yoga together. These create recurring bonding time and become special dad-and-baby rituals.
- Cast of baby's hand holding dad's finger: Kits like Luna Bean or KeaBabies allow you to cast baby's hand gripping dad's finger in plaster. It takes about 30 minutes and creates a sculpture that captures the size difference beautifully. Follow the kit instructions exactly for best results.
📅 How to Make the Day Special
The day itself matters as much as the gifts. Here's how to structure a first Father's Day that actually feels like a celebration and not just another exhausting day with a newborn.
- Let him sleep in — Handle the morning wake-up and feeding solo. Bring baby in for morning snuggles only once dad is awake on his own terms.
- Breakfast with baby: Even if "breakfast in bed" means coffee and toast, putting baby next to dad in bed with a small gift and a card makes a simple morning feel meaningful.
- Protect nap time: Don't plan activities that conflict with baby's nap schedule. A rested baby means a happier celebration for everyone.
- Give him unstructured time: Ask what he actually wants to do. Some dads want family time; others want an hour alone. Both are valid. Don't assume.
- Take photos of him with baby throughout the day — new dads rarely have enough photos of themselves with their baby. Capture candid moments without him asking for them.
For Partners: First Father's Day can be emotionally complex. Some new dads feel the weight of responsibility more than celebration. Check in with him genuinely. Acknowledge how hard the transition to parenthood has been. The best gift might just be hearing: "You're doing an amazing job, and our baby is lucky to have you."