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DadFrat | Est. 2000 | Topeka, KS

The Official Lifestyle Brand for Proud Dads...and those who love him.

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The DadFrat Story: It Started With A Smack On The Back

DadFrat is the officia lifetsyle brand and movement for proud dads — a community built around celebrating fatherhood, building stronger families, and creating a culture where being a dad is something to be proud of.

The Founder

Seth Movsovitz

Founder & CEO

In 2000, Seth Movsovitz — already a proud dad — got the news that his buddy, Roger Moss, was about to become a father. As the birth got closer, Seth wanted to get Roger a gift that truly captured the meaning of fatherhood — something more than just a bubble gum cigar or a tacky paperweight.

But nothing out there felt right. That's when inspiration struck.

He designed a t-shirt with the Greek letters Delta Alpha Delta — D.A.D. — as a symbol of the lifelong brotherhood of fatherhood. That one gift sparked an idea, and from there, DadFrat was born.

Fast forward to today, and DadFrat isn't just a brand — it's a movement. After COVID forced Seth to rethink his career, he went all in on his vision to make DadFrat a household name, giving dads everywhere the gear they deserve.

Welcome to the greatest fraternity...ever!

— Seth Movsovitz

Watch: DadFrat — From the Beginning

Watch: DadFrat — From the Beginning

The Topeka Capital-Journal covered Seth's story in 2002 — and the original crew of Delta Alpha Delta dads who started it all.

The Topeka Capital-Journal · June 6, 2002

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PROUD DADS. PROUD FAMILIES. PROUD TRADITIONS.

Celebrate the dads who show up, cheer loud, give everything and make college memories even better. DadFrat is the lifestyle brand for proud dads.

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DadFrat Family Weekend T-Shirt
I Love My DadFrat Dad T-Shirt

Why DadFrat?

Because being a dad is more than a title—it's a lifelong commitment. DadFrat celebrates proud fatherhood, brings dads together, and gives them a lifestyle brand they can proudly call their own.

🏆 Show Up & Stand Out
Gear that makes a statement—because showing up for your kid is the proudest thing a dad can do.

🤝 Brotherhood of Fathers
A fraternity built not on college campuses but on late-night feedings, school drop-offs, and the quiet moments that matter most.

❤️ Give Back
A portion of every purchase supports the DadFrat Foundation — providing mind health resources for fathers in need.

DadFrat was created for the proud dads who love deeply, listen closely, lead by example, and show up every day for their families.

Fatherhood is more than a title—it's a lifelong commitment. DadFrat is a lifestyle brand built to celebrate the brotherhood of fatherhood, bringing dads together through pride, connection, humor, and shared experiences.

Whether you're a new dad, a seasoned dad, a college dad, or simply a dad who loves being a dad, you belong here.

Love. Listen. Lead. That's the DadFrat way.

Custom Gear

Customize Your Gear

Customize Your DadFrat Family Weekend

Make Family Weekend even more meaningful with customized DadFrat gear created just for your campus community. Whether you're celebrating with a friend group, dorm, club, organization, association, or student group, DadFrat lets you create a unique Family Weekend shirt your dads will actually want to wear. Add your group name, year, colors, city, or special message to create a one-of-a-kind DadFrat design that celebrates the bond between students and their dads. Order it as-is or customize it for your group—and give Dad something he can wear with pride long after Family Weekend is over.

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YOUR DAD. YOUR FAMILY. YOUR TRADITION.

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Movement

The DadFrat Movement Is Here — And Here Is Why

Dads have always been there. Now it is time the world recognized it. The DadFrat movement is redefining what it means to be a proud, present, and powerful father.

DDadFrat•Wednesday, July 29, 2026•4min read

The DadFrat Movement Is Here — And Here Is Why

For too long, fatherhood has been an afterthought in the cultural conversation.

Moms get the flowers. Moms get the Instagram posts. Moms get the entire month of May. And they deserve every bit of it. But somewhere along the way, dads got left out of the celebration — reduced to punchlines, sidekicks, and bumbling background characters in a story they helped write.

That ends now.

The DadFrat movement is here. And it is not just a brand, a t-shirt, or a hashtag. It is a declaration. A brotherhood. A long-overdue recognition that dads matter — deeply, powerfully, and permanently.

What Is DadFrat?

DadFrat exists to celebrate, empower, and unite dads from ALL walks of life. A portion of every purchase supports the DadFrat Foundation, providing mind health resources and support for fathers in need.

DadFrat started with a smack on the back.

In 2000, Seth Movsovitz — already a proud dad — got the news that his buddy, Roger Moss, was about to become a father. As the birth got closer, Seth wanted to get Roger a gift that truly captured the meaning of fatherhood — something more than just a bubble gum cigar or a tacky paperweight. The seeds were planted...

Why Now?

Because the world is finally ready to hear it.

We are living through a fatherhood renaissance. Research consistently shows that involved fathers raise more confident kids, build stronger families, and create healthier communities. Dads today are more present, more engaged, and more emotionally available than any generation before them.

And yet the culture has not caught up. The media still defaults to the clueless dad trope. Parenting spaces still feel like they were built for moms first and dads as an afterthought. The message — subtle but constant — is that fatherhood is secondary.

DadFrat pushes back on all of it.

The Three Pillars: Love. Listen. Lead.

Every movement needs a foundation. Ours is built on three words.

Love. Not the soft, passive kind — the active, daily, show-up-no-matter-what kind. The love that drives you to be better because someone is watching. The love that makes you put the phone down, get on the floor, and actually play.

Listen. Your kids are telling you who they are every single day. In the questions they ask. In the games they invent. In the things they do not say but desperately need you to notice. Listening is not passive. It is one of the most powerful things a father can do.

Lead. Not by barking orders or demanding respect — but by living in a way worth following. By showing your kids what integrity looks like. What resilience looks like. What it means to love your family fiercely and without apology.

These are not just values. They are a way of being a dad.

The DadFrat Foundation: Because Some Dads Need Support

The movement is not just about celebration. It is about showing up for dads who are struggling.

The DadFrat Foundation exists to provide mind health resources and support for fathers in need. Because fatherhood can be hard. Isolating. Overwhelming. And for too many dads, asking for help feels like admitting defeat.

We are here to change that.

Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. The strongest thing a dad can do is recognize when he needs support — and reach out. The Foundation is building a world where no dad has to white-knuckle it alone.

This Is Your Brotherhood

Whether you are a new dad figuring out how to hold a newborn, a seasoned dad navigating teenagers, a single dad doing it all on your own, or a dad who just wants to feel seen — DadFrat is for you.

You do not have to earn your place here. You already belong.

The smack on the back that started this movement was not just a gesture. It was an invitation. A recognition. A reminder that you are not alone in this.

So here it is — your invitation.

Welcome to DadFrat. The movement is here. And it is just getting started.

Dad Mind Health

Postpartum Depression in New Dads: What Nobody Tells You

Up to 1 in 10 new dads experience postpartum depression — but most suffer in silence. Here's what it looks like, why it happens, and how to get through it.

DDadFrat•Wednesday, July 29, 2026•6min read

Postpartum Depression in New Dads: What Nobody Tells You

Everyone asks how mom is doing.

And they should — she just went through something extraordinary. But in the blur of visitors, diaper changes, and sleepless nights, there's a question that almost never gets asked: How are you doing, Dad?

The truth is, postpartum depression doesn't only affect mothers. Research shows that 1 in 10 new dads experience postpartum depression (PPD) — and that number may be even higher, because most men never report it.

This isn't weakness. This isn't failure. This is biology, stress, and identity all colliding at once. And it's time we talked about it.

What Is Paternal Postpartum Depression?

Paternal postpartum depression (PPPD) is a real, clinically recognized condition. It typically develops within the first year after a baby is born and can look very different from what most people picture when they think of depression.

For dads, it often doesn't show up as sadness. It shows up as:

Irritability and anger — snapping at your partner, feeling on edge constantly
Withdrawal — pulling away from your baby, your partner, your friends
Numbness — going through the motions without feeling connected
Anxiety — obsessive worry about the baby's health, finances, or your ability to be a good father
Reckless behavior — overworking, drinking more, taking risks
Physical symptoms — headaches, digestive issues, fatigue that sleep doesn't fix

Sound familiar? You're not alone — and you're not broken.

Why Does It Happen to Dads?

The causes of paternal PPD are layered, and they're more common than most men realize.

Hormonal Shifts

Yes, dads experience hormonal changes too. Studies show that testosterone levels drop significantly in new fathers — a biological shift that supports bonding and caregiving but can also contribute to mood changes, low energy, and emotional vulnerability.

Sleep Deprivation

This one's obvious, but it's worth saying clearly: chronic sleep deprivation is a form of torture. It impairs judgment, amplifies anxiety, and makes everything feel harder than it is. New dads are running on empty, and that takes a serious toll on mind health.

Identity Disruption

Before the baby, you knew who you were. Now everything has changed — your relationship, your freedom, your priorities, your sense of self. That kind of identity shift is disorienting, even when you wanted it.

Financial Pressure

The weight of providing for a new life is real. Many dads internalize this pressure silently, feeling like they can't show fear or uncertainty because they need to be "the strong one."

Feeling Left Out

Bonding between mother and newborn is immediate and intense. Dads can feel like outsiders in their own family — watching from the sidelines, unsure of their role, wondering if they even matter in those early weeks.

The Silence That Makes It Worse

Here's the brutal truth: most dads don't talk about this.

We're conditioned to push through. To be the rock. To handle it. Admitting that you're struggling after the birth of your child feels like a betrayal of the role you're supposed to play.

So we stay quiet. We white-knuckle it. We tell ourselves it'll pass.

Sometimes it does. But sometimes it doesn't — and the longer it goes unaddressed, the deeper it gets.

Untreated paternal PPD doesn't just affect you. It affects your relationship with your partner, your ability to bond with your baby, and your child's long-term emotional development. Research shows that children of fathers with untreated depression are more likely to experience behavioral and developmental challenges.

Getting help isn't just for you. It's for them.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Name It

The first step is the hardest: admitting that something is wrong. You don't have to have a diagnosis to acknowledge that you're not okay. If you've been feeling off — irritable, disconnected, anxious, or numb — for more than two weeks, that's worth paying attention to.

2. Tell Someone

Tell your partner. Tell a friend. Tell your doctor. You don't have to have the whole conversation figured out. Start with: "I haven't been feeling like myself since the baby came." That's enough to open the door.

3. Talk to Your Doctor

Paternal PPD is a medical condition, and your primary care doctor or a mind health professional can help. There are effective treatments — therapy, medication, or both — that work. You don't have to white-knuckle this alone.

4. Find Your Brotherhood

One of the most powerful things a struggling dad can do is find other dads who get it. Not to complain — but to be honest. To hear "me too." To realize you're not the only one who's felt this way.

That's what DadFrat is built on. Real dads, real conversations, no judgment.

5. Protect Your Sleep (Even a Little)

You can't eliminate the sleep deprivation of new parenthood, but you can be strategic. Talk to your partner about taking shifts. Sleep when the baby sleeps — even for 20 minutes. Guard your rest like it's medicine, because it is.

6. Move Your Body

Exercise is one of the most evidence-backed interventions for depression and anxiety. Even a 20-minute walk can shift your neurochemistry. You don't need a gym or a plan — just move.

A Note to Partners Reading This

If you're reading this because you're worried about the dad in your life — thank you. Your instinct is right.

The best thing you can do is ask directly: "How are you really doing?" And then listen without trying to fix it. Create space for him to be honest. Encourage him to talk to someone. And remind him that getting help is one of the most fatherly things he can do.

You Don't Have to Earn the Right to Struggle

There's a lie that a lot of new dads believe: that their struggles don't count because they didn't carry the baby, didn't give birth, didn't go through what mom went through.

Your pain doesn't need to be ranked to be real.

You are allowed to struggle. You are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to not be okay — and to do something about it.

That's not weakness. That's what a good dad does.

Resources

If you or a dad you know is struggling, reach out:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net — has a dedicated Dads section
DadFrat Foundation: Our peer support programs are built for moments exactly like this. Learn more

You are not alone. We've got you.

Dad Life

Asking for Help Is Strength: A Dad's Guide to Mind Health

Real strength as a dad means knowing when to ask for help. Here is why prioritizing your mind health makes you a better father, husband, and man.

DDadFrat•Wednesday, July 29, 2026•7min read

Asking for Help Is Strength: A Dad's Guide to Mind Health

There is a story a lot of dads tell themselves. It goes something like this: I handle things. I push through. I don't complain. I don't need help.

It sounds tough. It sounds like strength. But here is the truth — that story is quietly breaking a lot of good men.

Fatherhood is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. It is also one of the hardest. And carrying the weight of it alone, in silence, while pretending everything is fine — that is not strength. That is suffering in disguise.

Real strength looks different. Real strength is knowing when you are struggling and doing something about it.

The Myth of the "Strong Silent Dad"

We grew up watching dads who didn't talk about their feelings. They worked hard, provided for the family, and kept their struggles locked away. For a long time, that was the model. That was what it meant to be a man.

But that model has a cost.

Studies show that men are significantly less likely than women to seek mind health support — and significantly more likely to suffer in silence until a crisis hits. Depression, anxiety, burnout, and isolation are not weaknesses. They are human experiences. And dads are not immune.

The "strong silent" dad might look like he has it together. But his kids are watching. They are learning how to handle hard emotions by watching you. When you stuff everything down, you are teaching them to do the same.

When you ask for help, you teach them something far more powerful.

What Asking for Help Actually Looks Like

Asking for help does not mean falling apart. It does not mean you are failing your family. It means you are paying attention to yourself the same way you pay attention to everyone else.

Here is what it can look like in real life:

Telling your partner you are struggling. Not waiting until you are at a breaking point. Just saying, "I've been feeling off lately and I need to talk about it." That conversation alone can shift everything.

Calling a friend. Not to vent endlessly, but to connect. Men need brotherhood. We need other dads who get it. That is literally why DadFrat exists — because isolation is the enemy and community is the cure.

Talking to a therapist. This one still carries a stigma for a lot of guys, but therapy is not for people who are broken. It is for people who want to get better. Some of the strongest, most self-aware men you will ever meet have a therapist.

Taking a break. Stepping away from the noise for 20 minutes. Going for a run. Sitting in your car in the driveway for a few minutes before you walk inside. These are not selfish acts. They are maintenance.

Why Your Mind Health Is a Family Issue

Here is something no one tells you when you become a dad: your emotional state is contagious.

When you are anxious, your kids feel it. When you are checked out, they notice. When you are present, regulated, and genuinely okay — they thrive.

Your mind health is not separate from your role as a father. It is central to it.

A dad who is burned out, depressed, or running on empty cannot show up the way he wants to. He snaps at his kids. He checks his phone instead of playing on the floor. He goes through the motions but is not really there.

A dad who takes care of his mind health — who asks for help when he needs it, who processes his stress instead of burying it — that dad is present. That dad is the one his kids will remember.

The Brotherhood Principle

One of the core values of DadFrat is this: we are stronger together.

There is something that happens when dads get around other dads who are honest about the hard stuff. The walls come down. You realize you are not the only one who feels overwhelmed sometimes. You are not the only one who wonders if you are doing it right. You are not the only one who has cried in the car after a rough week.

That shared honesty is not weakness. It is the foundation of real brotherhood.

Seek out your people. Find the dads who will tell you the truth and hear yours. Build the kind of friendships where you can say "I'm not doing great right now" and be met with support instead of silence.

That community is one of the most powerful mind health tools available to you — and it costs nothing but showing up.

Signs You Might Need to Ask for Help

Sometimes we are so deep in it that we do not even recognize we are struggling. Here are some signs worth paying attention to:

You feel irritable or angry more often than usual, especially with your kids or partner
You have lost interest in things you used to enjoy
You are sleeping too much or not enough
You feel numb, disconnected, or like you are just going through the motions
You are using alcohol, food, or screens to cope more than you used to
You feel like a burden or like your family would be better off without your problems
You have thoughts of harming yourself

If any of these resonate, please reach out. Talk to your doctor, a therapist, or call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) if you are in crisis. You do not have to white-knuckle this alone.

How to Start the Conversation

If you have never talked about your mind health before, starting can feel awkward. Here are a few ways to open the door:

With your partner: "I've been carrying a lot lately and I think I need some support. Can we talk?"

With a friend: "Hey, I know we don't usually go deep, but I've been going through some stuff. You got a few minutes?"

With a professional: Call your primary care doctor and say, "I've been feeling anxious/depressed/burned out and I'd like to talk to someone." They can point you in the right direction.

With yourself: Start journaling. Even five minutes a day of writing down what you are feeling can create clarity and release pressure you did not know you were holding.

The Dad Your Kids Need

Your kids do not need a perfect dad. They need a present one.

They need a dad who shows them that emotions are not something to be ashamed of. A dad who demonstrates that asking for help is what strong people do. A dad who takes care of himself so he can take care of them.

That is the dad worth becoming.

So if you are struggling right now — if you are tired, overwhelmed, anxious, or just not okay — this is your reminder: asking for help is not weakness. It never was.

It is one of the bravest things you can do.

And your family is worth it. You are worth it.

•6min read

10 New Dad Tips That Actually Help You Survive (and Thrive)

Nobody hands you a manual when the baby arrives. One minute you are in the hospital, the next you are home with this tiny human who depends entirely on you — and you are running on two hours of sleep wondering what you signed up for.

Here is the truth: every dad feels this way. And every dad figures it out.

These 10 tips come from real dads who have been in the trenches. Not the sanitized, everything-is-beautiful version of fatherhood — the honest, in-the-weeds, you-can-do-this version.

1. Sleep When the Baby Sleeps (Yes, Really)

You have heard this advice a hundred times and probably rolled your eyes at it. Do not.

Your body cannot function on empty. The dishes can wait. The laundry can wait. Your brain needs rest to be the dad your kid needs. Even a 20-minute nap during a daytime sleep window can reset your entire afternoon.

Tag-team with your partner if you can. Take shifts. Protect each other's sleep like it is a precious resource — because it is.

2. Learn the Five S's

Pediatrician Harvey Karp's "Happiest Baby on the Block" method is worth its weight in gold. The five S's — Swaddle, Side/Stomach position, Shush, Swing, and Suck — can calm a crying newborn in minutes once you get the hang of it.

Practice the swaddle before you need it. Watch a YouTube tutorial. Get comfortable with it. When your baby is screaming at 3 AM, you will be glad you did.

3. Take Paternity Leave If You Can

If your employer offers paternity leave, take all of it. Every single day.

This is not just about helping your partner recover — it is about you bonding with your baby during a critical window. Dads who take paternity leave report stronger long-term bonds with their children and more confidence in their parenting abilities.

Do not let anyone make you feel like taking leave is a luxury. It is one of the most important investments you will ever make.

4. Do Not Compare Your Baby to Anyone Else's

Your neighbor's baby slept through the night at six weeks. Your coworker's kid was walking at nine months. Good for them.

Every baby is different. Every developmental timeline is different. Comparing your child's milestones to someone else's is a fast track to unnecessary anxiety.

Talk to your pediatrician if you have real concerns. Otherwise, trust your baby's pace.

5. Get Comfortable With the Diaper Change

Change as many diapers as you can in the early weeks. Seriously.

It sounds small, but diaper changes are one of the primary ways new dads build physical confidence with their baby. The more you do it, the more natural it feels to handle, soothe, and care for your child. Do not outsource this one.

Pro tip: keep a spare diaper under the one you are changing. When they go mid-change — and they will — you are already covered.

6. Talk to Your Baby Constantly

Your newborn cannot understand words yet, but they are absorbing everything — your voice, your tone, your presence.

Narrate your day. Tell them what you are doing. Sing badly. Read the sports scores out loud. It does not matter what you say. What matters is that your voice becomes the most familiar, comforting sound in their world.

This is also how language development begins. The more words they hear from you, the better.

7. Find Your Dad Tribe

Fatherhood can feel isolating, especially in those early months when your social life looks nothing like it used to. Find other dads who are in the same season of life.

Whether it is a local dad group, an online community, or just a few friends who are also new parents — having people who get it makes a massive difference. You need people you can text at midnight with a weird question and not feel judged.

That is what DadFrat is all about. You are not supposed to do this alone.

8. Give Your Partner Grace — and Ask for It Too

The postpartum period is hard on both of you, in different ways. Your partner is recovering physically and emotionally. You are adjusting to a new identity and a new normal.

There will be moments of frustration, miscommunication, and exhaustion-fueled arguments. That is normal. What matters is how you come back together.

Check in with each other. Ask what the other person needs. Say thank you. A lot. Small acts of acknowledgment go a long way when you are both running on fumes.

9. Trust Your Instincts

You are going to get a lot of advice. From family, from friends, from strangers on the internet. Some of it will be helpful. Some of it will be outdated. Some of it will be flat-out wrong.

You know your baby. You know your family. Trust what feels right for your situation. It is okay to smile, nod, and do things your own way.

Parenting is not one-size-fits-all. The best dad you can be is the one who shows up, pays attention, and keeps learning.

10. Remember: You Are Enough

This might be the most important one.

There will be days when you feel like you are failing. When the baby will not stop crying and you do not know why. When you lose your patience. When you wonder if you are doing any of this right.

You are. The fact that you care enough to ask the question means you are already a great dad.

Fatherhood is not about being perfect. It is about being present. It is about showing up every single day — tired, uncertain, and all in.

Love. Listen. Lead. That is the whole job.

You Have Got This

The first weeks and months of fatherhood are the hardest — and the most transformative. On the other side of the exhaustion and the learning curve is a bond unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Lean into it. Ask for help. Connect with other dads. And remember that every great dad started exactly where you are right now.

Welcome to the fraternity.

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🏆Disclaimer: DadFrat is an independent lifestyle brand and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, licensed by, or officially connected with any university, college, fraternity, sorority, or other organization unless expressly stated.

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