The latest in my ongoing efforts to exploit the collective wisdom of this community. I'm writing a piece for a baby web site on good gadget gifts for dads, and I'm lunging around trying to think of what I really wanted and/or needed back then. Any ideas? What's on your wish list, new dads? I'd love to get beyond my usual good camera/DVR advice. Ideas? Go ahead and make your royalty demands up front.

My idea kinda sux, so it's a freebee for ya....(but don't expect anymore....)<br><br>It's possible to buy a keychain with a digital picture frame that continuously scrolls through all the baby pictures.<br><br>My wife bought me one of these on a lark, but we returned it, because I prefer to keep my keys in my pocket, and the picture keychain was just too darn big.<br><br>But I guess somebody out there buys these things...

Here's another one...<br><br>If the Dad travels a lot for business, I'm sure he would appreciate having a webcam at home so he can check in on his new baby every night.

Excellent!!!!<br>I demand 1 million dollars (he says in his best Dr. Evil voice)<br><br>•Any sort of portable photo memento (keychain, pocket photo album, iPhone, ....)<br><br>•Baby backpack carrier- I have enjoyed that over several of my bio-genetic results... it gives mom a break, and there is some cool bonding (puke down the neck & back, pulled hair, leaking diapers all over the back) that can happen.<br><br>•1021 pints of Starbucks® & Ben-n-Jerry's® ice cream.... ok, that one is more gluttonous than gadgety.<br><br>•Long gloves, smock, goggles & a respirator. The first few diapers for a new dad are intimidating.<br><br>•I do have to suggest a *good* camera (I know, you said beyond the usual), one feature that is a must, in my opinion, is the instant picture.... meaning little to no lag from button to shutter.. It is so easy to miss a really cool moment in the 1 -2 second lag that most 'happy snap' cameras have.<br><br>I'm sure there are many more ideas out there...<br>Good luck & keep up the DaddyWork, Daddy Clay!!

I wanted the Itzbeen timer, but never got it. That's a cool one for the particularly neurotic structured personality dad. (shuddup) And the cool super automated no touch diaper pail thingy(Sorry sponsors, I don't remember the brand and would hate to drop the wrong name.) If ya can find one that has an outside vent attachment, that'd be ideal. (Hmmm, did I just give away a million dollar idea?) Those are the only gadgets I can think of. The portal digital picture album (in any form) is def. good.<br><br>A good gift is a manly diaper bag. The diaper bag vest, or just the cool standard black bag. I finally got a nice backpack version (for $3 at a consignment sale). But here's an extra catch to really make it a cool thing for Dad... personalize it. Either have it embroidered with something cool (skulls/fire/naked chick silhouette/team name/logo) or just get some patches if there are any related to his favorite hobby. (ie: I have skate patches waiting that perfect baby bag or jacket placement.) Stickers are good too... Indy's jogger stroller has 'em all over... (I keep threatening a picture of that don't I? Tonight dammit!)<br><br>My royalty contract includes being a PA when you come to Louisville to film the Taking your kids to the Derby or Handicapping for Toddlers QualityTime episode.

Diaper pail with a vent to outside is awesome idea!!! However, if I had that, I would probably just continue to shove more and more diapers into the pail forever, and never actually take them out to the trash.

Stroller photo has been added to my photos.

Hmmm...I think that the baby gear item my hubby liked the most was his fleece pocket sling from www.kangarookorner.com We got his and hers slings, kinda helpful when you got two babies to carry at once. But after the fact I realized that although most couples probably wouldn't shell out the extra bucks for the His sling, he actually ended up using his WAY more than I did. If one of the girls were fussy and yet fed and diapered he would pop her into his sling and was able to carry on with playing online computer games. But seriously, being hands-free WHILE soothing a baby is pretty dang awesome!

There have been some really neat cell phone apps lately that I could have taken advantage of during the T-3mo - T+6mo timeframe. The iPhone app that picks a restaraunt and the Blackberry Pearl's barcode price comparison app are both things that come to mind.<br><br>But the best tech gift of all is a lifetime membership at DadLabs. (10% commission?)

A bushel basket full of $100 bills. If that is not in the cards, and remember I'm not a big gadget guy, unless you think hot wings are gadgets, I would suggest something outside the box. Something other than stroller, car seat, diaper pail, baby timer.<br><br>How about a maid service or a gift certificate to a restaurant so the dad can take his sweetie out on the town before the big day.<br><br>I'm not saying I'm just saying.

I would have to say my ipod classic. It is a source of diversion for our toddler when we are trying to entertain her in a tight spot...thanks mainly to video podcasts from sesame street, although if you turn a blind eye the earbuds will be in her mouth! It also maintains my sanity when I can watch the dadlabs podcasts without kids talking over the top of it.

The keychain with pictures is on my short list. So is the Duracell Pocket Charger for iPhone or Blackberry. The iSimplifi from Griffin. And I'm also thinking about one of those tiny photo printers. Anybody use one of those?

You're not foolin' us....you only chose the keychain pictures idea because it was royalty-free.

I don't know about the photo printers (never tried 'em), but how about a gift certificate to Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc...???

How about upgraded headphones? Anybody have a pair they love? Headphones. I'm talking about headphones.

Must be hanging around Brad and Owen today with that clarification. Look at the headphones on her! LOL!

I would say a GPS. That way you can travel and not have to worry so much about how to get there. Plus if the kid is crying you don't have to worry about making sure you know the next part of the directions because it would tell you. Then if you miss your turn it would tell you how to get there. It might just be a helpful tool for dads and that trip. I know I am kind of behind on the whole GPS thing, but now that a lot are down closer to $100 on sale I am thinking more and more on getting one.

I think at last count we had eight or nine GPS units between the two of us. I'm not sure that they make things easier, though. Usually when a place is difficult to get to, the GPS position will be off by a bit or there will be a map quirk that makes things worse. Plus distractions for the driver are always bad. That said, we do have them and use them a lot for all sorts of things. Three of our units have trouble navigating I-65 South from Indianapolis. They don't think that the cloverleaf labeled 65 South will take us South, so it wants us to take some side streets to get on 65 a couple miles north into town. It's not really a problem, except that for about five minutes after avoiding it's plans for world domination, we get to hear the voice say Recalculating.<br><br>But after all that, I have another idea...

I love my Sony Reader. Besides the obvious feature of storing and displaying eBooks, it has an MP3 player so you can listen to music while you read. Here's my list of why I think it's a good gadget for a new or expecting Dad:<br><br> * The screen is unlit and nonreflective. While this sounds like a downside, the big upsides are that while the woman in your life is sleeping and restoring her fine self or building that beautiful baby, you can lay in the same bed and, using a standard book light, do some reading without disturbing her with turning pages or readjusting the light. The new one even has one built in that runs off the unit's power.<br> * It's important to read to your children. I think that everyone agrees on this, whether they actually do it or not. What makes it much more likely is if you develop the desire to read for yourself first. So you use this as something like a boot camp to build up the inertia to head into Goodnight Moon and God Bless the Gargoyles.<br> * It's also important to get fit. I found that my Reader makes the perfect companion in the gym. Not only can I listen to music but I get 45 minutes of uninterrupted reading and get to avoid whatever the teens or elderly around me are watching on the tubes. One big feature for me is that the text size can change. This makes reading a lot easier on the elliptical since my eyes are getting a bit old.<br> * And the one reason I like the Reader more than the Amazon Kindle is that it lacks Internet connectivity. While this may sound like a downside, hear me out. When I read a book, I'm usually trying hard to avoid distractions. I could read news and email on my computer, or a cell phone or nearly any device known to man these days. Books are for diving into and committing one's self to. The distraction potential of a Kindle is just too much for me. I'm bad enough at home when I have things to work on. I just don't see the lack of keyboards in books to be a disadvantage.<br><br><br>So, there you go. Get a Reader and be a Reader.

I've really been thinking about a Kindle -- waiting until the new version comes out in Feb. at least -- they're also out of stock. You make a good case fro the Sony here. Very interesting. Very good pitch. The bothers your wife less in bed aspect is compelling.

I'm also thinking of adding a Powerstation to the list. I keep one of these things in my trunk. Good for jump starts -- keeps you from getting stranded with the new baby. But I now use the compressor at least weekly, if not more often. I'm constantly pumping up balls or inflatable toys, to say nothing of keeping my tires at the correct pressure.

Powerstation is an awesome idea.<br><br>Actually, I think a whole baby emergency kit for the trunk is essential for any new Dad. Here in DC a major traffic jam can strike at any time, and leave you in the middle of a gridlocked 8-lane highway with a hungry and poopy baby with no recourse. One of the first things I did after our daughter was born was put a brand new bottle with powdered formula and bottled water in the trunk, along with diapers and wipes. The challenge was to keep that stash untouched and prevent my wife from raiding it when she ran out of diapers and formula in the house <br><br>For those among us who don't live in the big city, I would say blankets, duct tape, rope and a box cutter knife should be added to the kit. Heck, when I lived in upstate NY, I never dare drive anywhere without a full-size shovel, tow rope, and bag of salt in my trunk!

Gives me a reason to use another piece o' luggage... thanks! (I love luggage.)

An iPhone and a Pooh Bear swaddle blanket. Crap, here come the tears again.

Well I figured that with our first on the way a GPS nav system would be a great gadget - to find the quickest way to the hospital when it's D-day and to all the new places I'll find myself going . I've always wanted one but my wife thinks they're too much of a distraction and dangerous to use while driving.<br>So I was skimming through the weekly Christmas flyers and saw a great deal on a Garmin at Canadian Tire - I hinted this to Jami as a bit of a joke - as it's usually a non-starter with her. But this time she just started laughing! Looks like I guessed another gift (this is an annual event)<br>Anyways, for the new soccer mom's and hockey dad's - GPS is the way to go. And if you're north of the border - hit C.T. for the good deal.