Best 9 Gift Ideas for a New Dad in the Military
It’s difficult to be a military dad. It is even harder for those who are new dads. A lot of new fathers take for granted the time they get to spend with their new loved ones. Fathers on deployment may get to do some remote video chatting, but some will need to wait until their deployment is over.
There are loads of gifts someone can get for a new dad who is in the military, and Practical Parents in Training have a few you can consider below.
Disclaimer*: Practical Parents in Training’s goals are to provide great choices for parents both old and new. We earn compensation from affiliate links in this content.
Baby carriers are awesome – they allow new parents to bond closely with their kids while keeping them safe. The best ones, such as this TBH Tactical Baby Carrier, are tough while being very comfortable. You’ll find that this one has multiple PALS webbing attachments for additional pouches (baby wipe pouch perhaps?) and accessories. It is made of 600D polyster – while not exactly something like Cordura, it still gets the job done.
This particular model comes in multiple colors as well, like Coyote Brown (our personal favorite), Black Camo, Ranger Green, and Black.
JumpOff Jo Military-Inspired Baby Carrier
Here’s another baby carrier that is a little easier on the wallet than the TBG listed above. It still has MOLLE / PALS webbing – while maintaining a great sleek look. There’s actually a built-in changing pad, giving you the ability to turn it into a diaper changing station with just a few buckle snaps.
This one only comes in black, however, but it is easier on the wallet.
HSD Diaper Bag Backpack
Made by HighSpeedDaddy, this huge backpack has everything needed for a starter dad go-bag. The large compartment can carry loads of items (and you WILL be carrying a lot of stuff), has multiple pockets, and even includes a diaper changing mat. There are additional shoulder straps to connect this backpack to your stoller, although you’ll want to consider a pretty hefty stroller if you do that. It is made from 600D waterproof polyester and has 210D polyester lining, which means that it’s soft on your items, but is rugged enough for some major daddy duty.
This backpack comes in multiple colors as well such as coyote brown, black, ranger green, arctic camo, and even the tacti-cool Multicam.
Paracord Planet Paracord
Any father who spent time in a deployment knows the value of paracord (it is used to fix EVERYTHING). This particular brand is the type III style paracord which is rated for 550 lbs. Any military dad will find use for this. Just be sure to pick it up in a neutral color, like olive drab, green, or browns.
Welstik Professional Grade Duct Tape
The other half of the paracord and fast tape duo – any military father will know exactly how useful duct tape is. This particular brand is easy to tear with your hands (so you don’t need to carry you EDC knife). There are multiple colors available as well, but just like with the paracord, select neutral colors like olive or brown.
Military Onesies
Although you probably won’t end up needing both, Practical Parents in Training wanted to provide some options for two of our favorite US Armed Forces branches (Yes yes we know there are others, and there are onesies for all service branches). We find that military parents are proud of their service branch and having their children wear the appropriate onesie would appeal to their sense of pride.
Redneck Convent Metal Ammo Case Can
There are so many great uses for an ammo can. While not all military dads will be carrying ammo – these are great as a box for a care package. You can create an awesome care package with these by filling them up with snacks, small gifts, and alcohol.
American Flag Picture Frame
Show your patriotic spirit with this picture frame. This particular frame fits a 4×6 photo. Protip: preselect a photo put in it before giving the gift.
Everlit Emergency Trauma Kit
This IFAK (individual first aid kit) is preloaded with lots of supplies for the everyday carry dad. We found that most of the military fathers enjoy having emergency kits on them – and this particular pack is carrying everything needed ahead of time. There’s supplies for major trauma treatment such as a tourniquet, medical tape, and gauze. Keep in mind that the IFAK can be used on the owner as well! As mentioned in our 7 tips for modern parents, you will need to be sure that you’re taken care of, so you can take care of others. Stay prepared!
SOG Tanto EDC Knife - Flash II
What military father doesn’t like knives? This SOG Tanto everyday carry knife is 4.5 inches of durable steel with assisted opening and a mean look. Our favorite thing about this knife is that it has an additional safety lock in case you need to remove it from your body and you don’t want it accidentally opening.
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About Author
Practical Parents in Training
Hello! We are the Newtons. James and Kelly Newton to be in fact. We set out to help modern parents learn the most up-to-date methods for helping to raise their kids in a tough new world. We hope our words might shed a little light on this enigma called "how to be a modern parent."