Fast delivery
GENEROUS WARRANTIES
HERE FOR YOU
Fatherhood looks different for every dad. It’s early mornings and bedtime stories, making the most of a FaceTime call from the other side of the world, fixing what’s broken and finding a few quiet moments in an otherwise busy day.
The big milestones are special, but so much of fatherhood happens in the everyday moments in between.
This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the BabyRest dads who make those moments count. From first-time dads to those who’ve been at it for a decade, here’s what fatherhood looks like in their world… and some of the everyday moments we’re proud to be part of.
Because sometimes, the best thing a dad can be is right here with you.
Making every moment count with Ethan
Ethan, if we dropped into your family’s world on an ordinary day, who would we find?
You’d find my wife Claudia, our little girl Nova, our dog Vincent and myself at home in Dunedin. You would also find some sheep and a couple of lambs! Life’s pretty busy between travelling a lot for rugby, the farm and family, but I’ve been a dad for five months now and I’m loving it.
What nursery rituals are you loving at the moment?
I am currently away in South Africa for rugby, so the ritual is probably more about juggling time zones to get a FaceTime in with Nova! She is growing so fast, and learning so many new skills all the time. When I’m home though, I love that quiet time with her in the nursery. Getting her settled, having a cuddle and reading her a book the BabyRest Celeste Electric Nursery Chair and just hanging out together. Makes you appreciate those little moments even more when you’ve been away.
Has becoming a dad changed the way you spend your downtime?
Yeah, for sure. I don’t think there’s as much “downtime” these days! But when I do get a bit of time, I’m pretty happy just being at home with the family. You definitely start appreciating the quieter, simpler stuff a lot more.
When you’re finally home and it’s just family time, what’s your favourite way to switch off and spend time with baby Nova?
Honestly, just being with her. We’ll have cuddles, read books or get outside and wander around the farm. I’m really looking forward to her getting bigger and coming out to see the sheep, learning about the farm, building little huts and getting into all sorts of adventures. I think watching her grow up with the farm as her backyard will be pretty special. For now, I’m just enjoying having her close and making the most of this little stage.
In the thick of it with Josh
Josh, you’ve got a beautiful family with a brand-new addition. Give us a little snapshot of family life at the moment.
We’re a family of five now, my wife Saige and I, our son Kade who’s 4, Delilah who’s 20 months, and our newest addition Daphne, who’s six weeks old.
Life at the moment is definitely busy! With three kids four and under, there’s pretty much always someone who needs feeding, changing, entertaining or settling. I’m currently on parental leave, so a typical day is a mixture of looking after the kids, getting out of the house when we can, trying to keep on top of things at home, and fitting in some training for myself where possible. It’s chaotic, but it’s a really nice stage of life and ’m enjoying being home for it.
Is there something you can do now as a dad that pre-kids Josh would be impressed by?
Probably just my capacity to keep going when I’m absolutely exhausted.
Before kids, if I’d had a terrible night’s sleep I would’ve written the next day off. Now you can be up multiple times through the night and still get up in the morning, make breakfast, get everyone dressed, entertain three kids and somehow function like a normal person. You realise pretty quickly you’ve got another gear when you need it.
You’ve got not one but TWO BabyRest nurseries. What are your favourite family rituals or memories tied to these pieces?
The change table setup on top of the chest of drawers has probably been the biggest one for us. We set it up for Delilah and have genuinely used it every single day for nearly two years... changes, getting dressed, little chats and cuddles, it just becomes part of your everyday routine without you really thinking about it.
When Daphne came along, we loved the setup so much that we basically recreated it in her nursery. There’s something pretty special about now doing all those same little routines with our newest baby that we’ve done with Delilah for the last couple of years.
What’s your favourite thing about being a dad that you didn’t see coming?
Probably how much I enjoy the really ordinary little moments. Before having kids, you imagine the big milestones birthdays, first steps, holidays and all of that. But some of the best parts are just the random conversations, having them run over when you get home, making them laugh, or sitting together doing absolutely nothing important.
I didn’t expect those everyday moments to be the bits I enjoy the most.
Finding your feet with Ken
Ken, you’re in your first chapter of fatherhood - so exciting! Walk us through what life with your family looks like right now.
Our family is made up of me (Ken) 32 years young, Caroline who just turned 30, baby Camille who is nearly 8 months old and our two cats Chanel and Zola who I can't remember how old they are.
7am: Camille has been waking up at 7am recently so the day starts with setting up with her toys for some independent playtime while I make a beeline for the coffee. Or if I was on baby night-shift, I get a sweet sleep in.
8am: Breakfast for me and then baby, she's started solids so Caroline usually feeds her, she's been really enjoying fruit or anything meaty.
10:30am: Start work from home! Working in a regional role means I get to start at Singapore time which is helpful for an extra sleep in after a rough night.
1pm: Gym (in the garage) and some lunch.
4pm: When most of the meetings start!
7pm: Finish work and then bathtime for baby, any calls with Europe or America usually mean a late night
7:30pm: Baby bedtime and I cook dinner.
8pm: Get to hang out with Caroline.
10pm: Bed time nice and early.
Eight months in, what’s something you reckon you’ve really figured out or nailed as a dad?
Not making awkward eye-contact with strangers who are making funny faces at Camille in public.
You’ve had a sneak peek at one of our very exciting upcoming BabyRest chairs! What nursery moments can you already picture happening here?
I can imagine the chair being hot property in our household between Caroline, myself and the two cats. Definitely see me doing bedtime stories at fully upright, midday naps with baby at 50% reclined and solo naps at 100% reclined.
Has becoming a dad brought out a side of you that you didn’t expect?
Through your baby, you get to experience everything for the first time again. Whether they are enjoying a warm bath or seeing birds for the first time or tasting something new, they think it's awesome and you can't help but agree with them and appreciate it.
The years go quickly with Max
Max, tell us a little about your family and the chapter you’re in right now.
I’m based in Melbourne with my wife, Xenia, and our three kids: Kyrill (15), Michelle (almost 3) and Seven (1.5). Life is pretty full with work and three kids at completely different stages, and our house is rarely quiet. But I actually love this phase, even the chaos that comes with it.
What’s one thing in your nursery you’d really miss if it wasn’t there?
Probably the nursery chair. I use it a lot with the girls, rocking them, reading stories or just sitting together before bed. And sometimes I’ll walk into the room and see Xenia there with one of the girls curled up on her, settling her to sleep. It’s become such a normal part of our everyday life that I think we’d really notice if it wasn’t there.
Can you share a parenting win you’re secretly proud of?
I think I’m most proud that the kids feel really comfortable with me. If they’re tired, upset or just need someone, they know they can come and sit with me, climb on me or just be close. I like knowing they feel safe enough to do that.
On reflection as a 'seasoned' dad, is there some way you feel fatherhood has changed you for the better?
Having a teenager and two little girls at the same time really makes you realise how quickly it all moves.
I think fatherhood has made me much more aware of being there for the ordinary things, bedtime, random conversations, sitting together doing nothing. You look at your 15-year-old and suddenly understand just how fast those little-kid years disappear.
Jack of all trades with Daniel
Daniel, you’ve been doing the dad thing for a little while now. What does family life look like for you these days?
Hi I’m Daniel, I have one daughter Margo who’s 10 going on 16. Family life right now for me is mostly made up of home-making/DIY (we recently built a house so now doing all the landscaping), and spending time together with Margo – as much non-screen time as possible!
Margo is growing up quickly and most weekends we do some jobs together around the home. I really enjoy teaching her the things that I learnt has a kid, exploring our surrounding nature reserve. Occasionally we enjoy going into the city for dinner and a walk or ride along the river or beachfront.
What’s your current dad superpower?
Definitely fixing stuff – I really enjoy that moment where their eyes light up because they thought it was broken forever!
You’ve had a hand in designing a lot of the products BabyRest families use every day. Has being a dad changed the way you think about what makes a nursery product genuinely useful?
Kids have zero respect for furniture items – what adults see as a beautiful furniture piece, kids see as their playground or gym set.
I love to test the limits with durability, and make our products as robust as possible, whether it be extended number of times something is tested, or extra weight added to the test. Knowing our furniture pieces and sleep products can take on the tough toddlers out there brings me great joy.
Looking back now, is there a BabyRest product you designed that you think, ‘Yep, we absolutely nailed that one’?
Undoubtedly the DuoCore – it just keeps on delivering and achieving new heights in both product quality, testing and the number of parents that choose it. I’d like to say our new furniture ranges launching in Spring this year but let’s wait and see – I’m very excited!
And finally, what’s your favourite part of the dad ‘job description’?
He has to be ‘jack of all trades’ – a challenge which I really enjoy. Not only the DIY, fixer-upper, build-stuff, but also the softer side – the caring, emotional support after a tough day at school, and the ongoing conversation with Margo about her ever-changing designs for her bedroom and cubby house.
To the dads figuring it out as they go, showing up on the big days and the ordinary ones, and giving it everything they’ve got, we see you. There’s no perfect way to do fatherhood. Just your way: learning, adapting, having a laugh, and being there for the people who matter most.
This Father’s Day, thank you for showing up, for making the everyday moments count, and for letting us be right there with you along the way.
Happy Father’s Day from all of us at BabyRest.
Keep reading: