New dad cufflinks are for the man who has just had his whole world rearranged by someone who weighs about seven pounds. They're a present that acknowledges his new role, and a quietly proud way for him to take the baby back into the office with him after paternity leave.
Presents for the father, not just the baby
When a baby arrives, the gifts pour in – for the baby. Tiny cardigans, soft toys, a mountain of muslins. The new father tends to get a slap on the back and a lot of advice. A pair of personalised new dad cufflinks is a way of saying: this is your moment too.
They're typically given:
- By a partner as a push present in reverse, or as a thank-you for all those night feeds.
- For his first Father's Day, often "from" the baby, which is always a hit.
- By the new grandparents, marking their son becoming a father.
- By friends and colleagues as a welcome-back present when he returns to work.
From the scan to the first smile
There are wonderful images to choose from in those first months:
- The 12- or 20-week scan. A grainy black-and-white scan is instantly recognisable and looks striking on a small square.
- A newborn close-up – a sleepy face, a yawn, a fist wrapped around his finger.
- Birth details. Name, date, time and weight in neat type: "Isla · 03.08.26 · 4.12am · 7lb 2oz".
- Hand or footprints, inked onto white card on one of those rare calm afternoons.
- Dad and baby together, skin to skin in the first hours, if it's a photo you're happy to see printed.
If you can't pick one, buy two pairs. A scan pair he can wear now and a newborn photo pair for later make a lovely set, and the second pair makes an easy first Father's Day gift.
Getting a good image of a very small person
Newborn photos are often taken in dim rooms, late at night, by someone who hasn't slept, so a bit of care helps. Pick a picture where the face is in focus and well lit, ideally near a window in daylight. Crop in close so the face fills the square, and avoid anything with patterned blankets competing for attention. For scan images, photograph the printout flat, straight on, and without glare from overhead lights – or ask the hospital if a digital copy is available. As always, upload the original file rather than a screenshot, because we print from your full-resolution image.
When he goes back to work
The return from paternity leave is an underrated moment. He's tired, he's missing the baby already, and the inbox has not been kind. New dad cufflinks slip easily into that first week back: a gift box left on the kitchen table the night before, with a note from both of you. He gets to take a tiny piece of home into every meeting, and colleagues who ask about the baby get an instant answer without him reaching for his phone.
Birth details that fit neatly
If you're going with text, keep the layout simple: the baby's first name large, with the date and perhaps the time smaller beneath. Weight and place of birth are charming extras, but four lines is about the limit before the letters get too small. Stick to a clean typeface with good contrast and leave a margin around the edges. Check the live preview carefully, zooming in to make sure every number is crisp and correct.
Ordering new dad cufflinks
- Upload your image – scan, photo, footprint or birth details.
- Preview it on both cufflinks and drag and zoom until it looks right.
- Order securely.
A single pair is £40 with shipping included. If you'd like pairs for both grandfathers too, five or more pairs are £15 each plus £5 shipping per order, and different designs can share a basket. Every pair is made in our Cornwall workshop and sent gift boxed, which is handy when you have your hands full.