Gifts for Paramedic Dads Who Run the Night Shift

Buy a paramedic dad a tee he wears off shift and a mug he uses at 0600. Start with the Hard to Kill. Easy to Hug. tee at $32, add the On Watch Mug at $26, and you are close. Order by Dec 10 for Christmas.

Skip the trauma shears

A medic already owns the shears, the boots and three flashlights. He bought them his way, and he will tell you why yours is wrong.

What he does not own is a shirt that says what he is. Hard on the street. Soft with his kids. That is the gap, so that is the gift.

If he...	Buy this	Cost
Says he wants nothing	Hard to Kill. Easy to Hug. tee	$32
Drinks coffee at odd hours	On Watch Mug	$26
Lives in a cap	0300 Club Trucker	$34
Is cold after every shift	Sheepdog Hoodie	$59
Needs a bigger gift	Tee + hat + mug	$92

8 picks for the medic dad

1. Hard to Kill. Easy to Hug. Tee, $32. Paramedics spend the shift being the calm one and the evening being the dad. This shirt says both in six words.

2. Sheepdog Tee, $32. SHEEPDOG in stencil caps. He runs toward the scene while everyone else drives away. He will not say so himself, so the shirt does it.

3. The Dad Code Tee, $32. Five rules on the back, from protect your kids to never miss the recital. Rule five is the hard one when you work nights. The shirt is a reminder.

4. Sheepdog Hoodie, $59. SHEEPDOG across the back, a small mark on the chest. It is the one for the drive home after a long call. Cold ambulance bays are a real thing, and a hoodie handles it.

5. 0300 Club Trucker, $34. Embroidered 0300 on a mesh-back trucker. Medics know the hour. Everyone else just thinks it is a good hat.

6. On Watch Mug, $26. An 11 oz ceramic mug that says "On watch" on the front, with his kids' names on the back. It is dishwasher and microwave safe, which matters at 0600. It is made to order, so check the spelling.

7. Names and Years Tee, $34. His kids' names and birth years over the chest. This is the one that gets a quiet "huh" and a long look. It is personalized and made to order, so place it first.

8. Hard to Kill Tumbler, $36. A 20 oz stainless tumbler with a lid and metal straw. It rides in the rig's cup holder or the truck's. Hand wash only.

Browse the rest in men's tees, drinkware and personalized gifts.

These are off-duty clothes

Say it on the card. They are not uniform and not protective gear. He wears them at home, at the game, and on the way to bed at 8 a.m. while the kids are up.

How to pick his size and fit

• Tees. Unisex fit, true to size. Between sizes, go up. The easiest move is to check the tag on a tee he already wears.
• Hoodies. They run small. Order one size larger than his usual.
• Hats. The 0300 Club Trucker is one size fits most, with an adjustable snap.
• No idea. Buy the mug or the tumbler. Neither has a size.

Get to free shipping without padding

Shipping is free over $75. Tee plus mug is $58, which does not clear it. Add the $34 trucker hat and you land at $92. Or buy the $59 hoodie and the $26 mug for $85. The cart has the final numbers. If he will not use a third item, pay the shipping instead.

Personalized items are made to order, so order those first. Order by Dec 10 for Christmas.

What to write on the card

• "You take care of everyone else. This one is for you."
• "Hard to kill. Easy to hug. Come home."
• "From the three who wait up for you."

If the kids sign it, leave their handwriting alone. He will keep that card in the rig.

Four mistakes

1. Buying more gear. He has opinions about gear and you are not a medic.
2. Calling a tee protective. It is not. Keep it off the clock.
3. Guessing a hoodie size. They run small.
4. Ordering late. Order by Dec 10 for Christmas.

Related reading

• Best gifts for a first responder dad
• Gifts for a firefighter dad
• How to be a present dad when you work nights

Third Shift Dad is made by a former law enforcement officer and dad of 3, for dads who protect and provide. Pick the tee, add the mug, and order by Dec 10 for Christmas. Shop the line