Cards for a first Christmas as a dad

You have been practising your assembly face for months. Now there is a small human in the house, a mountain of equipment with confusing instructions, and an audience of relatives wanting a photo. Being a dad for the first Christmas has a quiet pride in it that you will probably not say out loud.

A card can say it for you. You might want to thank your own father, tell your partner what they have done this year, or let the family know how it is going. Pick a card, write your own words inside, and send it as a link by email or text. It can wait for Christmas morning.

5 things to write inside

Swap in their name. Change anything that doesn’t sound like you.

  1. sweet I get it now, Dad. All of it. Thank you for every Christmas you stayed up building things. Love, [first name].
  2. funny First Christmas as a dad, [first name]. I have read the instructions twice and the cot is still a mystery.
  3. quiet I did not know I could feel this way about someone so small. Merry Christmas, [first name].
  4. sweet You have been amazing this year, [first name]. I could not have done a single night of it without you.
  5. funny Merry Christmas, [first name]. I have been promoted to chief nappy officer, and I am taking it very seriously.

Questions people ask

What do you write in a first Christmas card as a new dad?

Keep it plain and honest. One line on what the baby has done to you, one line of thanks to whoever has carried you through. New dads rarely overshare, so a short sincere sentence tends to land well.

Should I send my own father a card for my first Christmas as a dad?

It is a good moment for it. Being a dad changes how you see your own, and a few lines saying so can mean a lot. You do not need to make it dramatic, just true.

Can the baby sign the card?

You can write it as though it comes from the baby, which grandparents tend to enjoy. Add a joke about the nappies if you like. It is sent as a link, so you can do it from the sofa.