I’ll admit it: I’m not a single dad. However, as a very suddenly single mom, I’ve thought a lot about how life would be for my husband if I had died on that plane instead of him. What help would he need? What help would he be willing to ask for (none)? What would I wish someone had done for or given to him? That’s what inspired this post. Here are the best gifts for single dads, as imagined by a loving widow.
A Manly Diaper Bag
Babies, and even toddlers and older kids, need a lot of “stuff.” Between the diapers, pull-ups, changes of clothes, toys and books to distract them on the go, snacks, snacks, snacks, and everything else, Dad needs a place to keep all that stuff—a container that doesn’t look like it’s a bag made for a woman (no pastels, please). Yes, Dads look manly carrying their daughter’s tiny My Little Pony backpack, but when it’s his bag, it needs to look like a “man bag.”
Free Babysitting
It doesn’t matter if you’re a single mom or a single dad, you need some time to be “off duty.” Offer to take care of the kids so he can go to the grocery by himself, go out to eat with a friend, go for a run, lift heavy without worrying about hurting a kid, or do whatever dads need to do to recharge. This is what single parents really need in order to feel like they’re doing better than just keeping their heads above water. Not comfortable with kids? Ask a mutual friend (who is comfortable with kids) to babysit with you.
Men’s Devotional for Dads
If the single dad in your life is a man of faith, he will appreciate this short, weekly devotional book. Anything daily will probably be too overwhelming, especially early on, but a weekly devotional will seem more manageable. I actually got this one for my husband’s one and only Father’s Day, when I was still pregnant with our daughter. He kept it by the bed.
The Single Dad’s Survival Guide
Even if he’s not a man of faith, he’ll be able to find time to look through this book for the survival skills he needs (and the skills his kids need him to have). It’s a great stocking stuffer–because someone needs to fill a stocking for Dad. The pages are full of tips, encouragement, and strategies to make single dad-ing seem achievable.
Robot Vacuum
My husband was the vacuumer in our relationship, but I think that’s not typical. Me, though? I hate vacuuming, despite living in a relatively small condo with very little carpet to deal with, the full-size vacuum doesn’t make it out of the closet nearly enough. Enter: The Robot Vacuum! This is especially helpful for anyone with kids and a hair-losing pet. If the robot takes care of the vacuuming, that’s one less thing for an already-overextended single dad to do. And the house might just get vacuumed more often.
Meal Kit Subscription
I know a lot of men who enjoy cooking, my own dad included. But for a single dad? It’s one thing you could take off his figurative plate. Even just a couple of nights a week that he doesn’t have to make a meal will be a huge help. That means more time spent with his child or children, and less stress to deal with as well. Some popular ones include Hello Fresh, Factor, Home Chef X Gordon Ramsay. Another option? Offer to cook for him and his family once in a while.
Want more? Check out my dedicated Gift Guides Page!
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These are all so great & helpful especially for single dads and many for all dads. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! 🙌