Parental thermoregulation can provide an efficient way to control embryonic temperature and optimize developmental durations and timing. To date, most studies on parental thermal effects have focused on maternal influences, because of the predominant role of females for parental care in most systems. Yet, paternal thermal effects are equally expected to occur in species that display paternal care to the progeny. We studied the midwife toad, a small amphibian with exclusive male parental care and terrestrial eggs transport. We examined the variations of body temperature of egg-carrying males and non-reproductive individuals in the field, and determined their thermal preferences in a laboratory thermal gradient. We also experimentally examined the influence of temperature on embryonic development durations across five treatments (16, 18, 20, 22, 24 °C). In support of our predictions, we detected a shift in thermal preferences with reproduction, with carrying males preferring higher temperatures than non-carrying ones. Field monitoring indicated that carrying males used diurnal shelters early in the season when thermal conditions were more constraining. Meanwhile, they minimized overheating risks by avoiding shelters with high substrate temperature. Finally, we detected a marked thermal dependence of embryonic development, suggesting potential phenological benefits of paternal thermoregulation in this species.