Valentine's Day gift ideas for husband, imminent baby edition

February 1, 2013 4:25 PM

Our first child is due in a few weeks and I would like to give him something extra romantic and special (maybe even a bit pampering) for V-Day before the big event. Desperately seeking suggestions, romantic gifting for men is hard!

Some more about him: 30-something, introverted, nerdy engineer type (literal rocket scientist). He has classic tastes and values items of quality, but we're saving money for the baby so a big expense is probably not a good idea. Let's say the budget is about $150.

Some things I've thought of include a nice pen (Waterford or Porsche), fur-lined slippers, silk boxers... but then these things are also not necessarily useful or practical, and seem somewhat cliche. Help! (Also, I got him a robe for V-Day last year so that's out, sadly.)

posted by annekate to shopping (5 answers total)

Dopp kit? Maybe with Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving and some wetshaving gear? You can hit the subreddit /r/wickededge and look at the bar on the right, for "KIT SUGGESTIONS," which they have for every budget. Start with the Double Edge.

Wetshaving turns a chore into self-pampering, IMO.
posted by Sunburnt at 4:33 PM on February 1 [1 favorite]

Does it have to be romantic? I imagine that with a new baby on the way, many husbands would enjoy a weekend away with some guy friends, or something like that.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:53 PM on February 1 [2 favorites]

It doesn't have to be romantic, but he's not really a "going out with the guys" type. A few coworkers tried to take him out for pre-baby drinks and he complained about it all week. :/

He's pretty family-oriented so his mind is very much on us right now. I might be able to convince him to go get pampered somewhere (a shave? a massage?) but I'm not sure he'd like something we couldn't do it together.
posted by annekate at 5:01 PM on February 1

My partner (similarly nerdy, similarly family oriented) LOVES hot tubs and saunas. I've gotten him a gift certificate to the local bathhouse, and he loves it. (The term "bathhouse" sounds sketchy, but this is basically just a really fancy clothing-optional hot tub. We go there together a lot.)

Alternately, the thing most people I know would have loved for their last pre-baby Valentine's day is some serious couple time. Take him out to a nice dinner, or a fancy brunch. Your profile says San Francisco, so maybe take a Sunday and go to the beach or Point Reyes or something with an elegant picnic. Maybe a cheese tasting in Marin, like a wine tasting, but something you can also participate in.
posted by linettasky at 5:33 PM on February 1 [2 favorites]

if he's the kind of guy who would like it - for the pampering you can both go get a pedicure, which is something to do together and something that'd still be comfortable for you.

you could also look at the pre-prepared meal options in your city so with very little work you can make a nice, intimate dinner at home (my introvert husband would always take a meal at home over a crowded restaurant).

for a gift that feels a little saucy, but is still practical, flint and tender makes nice underwear, completely in the US. as a wife, i can vouch for the oh la la angle on the boxer briefs, my husband says they're super comfy too.

for something creative you can make him a "dad needs to unwind" emergency kit - maybe get something like a metal lock box and then fill it with little liquor bottles, a video game or a book, whatever his preferred non parishable snack is (dark chocolate, beef jerky, etc), and a nice soft pair of socks (sock dreams is a good place for this - amazing socks and great customer service. as a personal recommendation, my husband really likes these as spoiling him socks).
posted by nadawi at 5:38 PM on February 1 [2 favorites]