ALL YEAR LONG, Dad dealt with diapers. He played trucks. He endured painfully long ballet recitals and fixed Barbie when her head popped off. Again.
He waited up for his teenager (and his car) to come home safely. He blew up birthday balloons and always had the camera ready. Now it’s his turn for some well-deserved attention. And there are plenty of great gifts for both new dads and old pros.
Dad really needs his cell phone for work. So why can he never seem to remember where he left it? The Beanbag Cell Phone Chair is a place for your cell phone to sit and stay. The nylon chair comes in seven colors and is also a good spot for iPods or Blackberries to rest. $9.75 at spoon sisters.com or call 800-716-4199.
High-tech dads often have a lowtech problem. While using the family computer, his beer approaches room temperature. There’s an easy solution– the USB Beer Chiller plugs into the computer’s USB port and keeps beverages at 45 degrees. Cheers. $40 at redenvelope.com or call 877-733-3683.
Give dad an easy way to make awkward small talk at the office. Career-themed cuff links at cufflinks. com give him something to chat about with co-workers in the elevator. There’s a bull/bear set for dads with financial jobs, handcuffs for law enforcement dads or blueprints for dads in contracting or architecture. Cuff links start at $45 at cufflinks.com or call 877-283-3565.
The bleachers at Little League games sure can heat up, so Dad needs a cool way to tote water bottles. The Camo Tote from Built NY is a 32-ounce tote made from wetsuit material that keeps bottles cold for up to three hours. Available in four colors, the tote starts at $14.95 at builtny.com or at Whole Foods, 1640 Chicago Ave., Evanston or Fox & Obel, 401 E. Illinois St.
No need for Dad to miss another youth soccer game. The Vaio UX Micro PC from Sony is a hand-held computer that weighs about a pound. It has a 4.5-inch screen, a slide-out keyboard and two built-in cameras. There are also e-mail and Internet so Dad can work from anywhere. Available in July for about $1,800 at sonystyle.com.
New or expecting dads can have many questions. “The Goodfather” is an interactive CD with helpful hints for new dads. $34.95 at amazon.com or at Baby Bibs Etc. 877-231-0613.