The Dad Pad Is the Hospital Hack Keeping Dad Fresh for Mom and Baby

Forget the days when dads showed up to the delivery room with nothing more than a camcorder and nerves. From Jason Kelce’s viral delivery room essentials to ballooning hospital go-bags, today’s dads are preparing like pros who know that a healthy, happy dad can be the support system an exhausted mom and brand-new baby need. To round out the preparation equation, Katie and Andrew Cohen are helping Dad (or whoever else is on your support squad) get a good night’s sleep with the Dad Pad.

Katie and Andrew Cohen dreamt up the Dad Pad after hearing horror stories about brutal hospital couch stays. Andrew, taking note before his first child was born in 2022, lugged in a mattress pad for his wife’s emergency C-section. With a comfortable, full-sized bed of his own, Andrew was free to catch some Zzzs and those long hours of support were suddenly not only bearable but enjoyable.

After experiencing the results himself and hearing praise from the nurses on staff, the Cohens knew they had to make their hack a reality for more parents. “The Dad Pad is truly a custom-built product. Hospital couches aren’t exactly built for comfort, and they have really unique dimensions. We tested multiple sizes, densities and overall portability. We had people take in prototypes and give us feedback on the fit and comfort while also creating custom bags and sheets to make the product ready to roll,” Andrew told The Bump in an exclusive interview. “It was super important to figure out how to make it easy to carry, clean, and set up wherever you need it.”

Image: Courtesy of Dad Pad

After hundreds of hours refining the idea, testing prototypes and eventually patenting the name, the Dad Pad was ready just in time for the Cohen’s third due date this past September. “It was surreal,” Andrew said. “Every nurse who came in talked about it and mentioned how many dads struggle with the sleeping situation. Each birth is different, and the time, energy, and emotions always catch up to both parents (especially once you have a few at home that you’re also managing). I woke up each morning more prepared to help Katie recover from her C-section and care for our newest daughter."

But make no mistake—this isn’t about dads stealing focus in the delivery room. “Moms are EVERYTHING to us,” Andrew says. “This product was built in tandem with my wife and really was created so dads can be go-getters (and not annoying). When dads are exhausted, uncomfortable and running on fumes, it’s harder for them to really show up and support their partner and the new baby in the way they need. The Dad Pad isn’t about taking focus away from Mom—it’s about making sure Dad can be rested and present for Mom.”

Even better? The product’s purpose goes well beyond the hospital walls. “It’s practical, travel-friendly, and made to transition seamlessly from the hospital to home life. Afterward, it becomes part of your family’s everyday routine, for floor play, next to the crib for those sick nights or even family movie nights."

At the end of the day, it’s about empathy and showing up. “Labor is long, emotional, and physically draining for both parents,” Andrew says. “If we can help dads get a bit of rest, laugh through the chaos, and be a better partner in the process, that’s a win for everyone in the room.”

Use code THEBUMP for 10% off The Dad Pad at officialdadpad.com