How much paternity leave do you think dads should take when having a new baby?

Question

I'm just wondering what everyone here thinks is a good amount of time for a dad to take off work after having a baby?

My hubby is taking off 4 months for the new baby. This will be the longest he's ever taken off for one of our babies. I think the longer the dad can be home the better to be able to support the mom and bond with the baby👨‍🍼

Bklynbadboy12 · Accepted Answer

6 months I would work up until she has the baby that take 6 months maternity leave. That way he can help that mother of his child. It's hard for a woman after they have a baby and I'd like to be there to ease the burden on her. The baby has there days and night mixed up we can work in tandem so she can sleep sometime and have a chance to heal and recover. Plus it would give me time to bond with my child in that first few crucial months of my child's life not to mention most women breast are swollen with milk after giving birth to the point there sore to the touch I want to be there to put a hot compress on them and help her through that and whatever else that may arise. As a man I have to know how to do more than just have sex with a woman we have to know how to take care of them as well!

matchrestore · Accepted Answer

I didn't have any... Just vacation and sick time. I took all of that (reserving a single sick day for later in the year in case I needed it). That came out to three weeks. But I also worked 90 hours one week in the middle of that when my mother-in-law was staying at our house to help, and used took the equivalent to my overtime (75 hours) as additional unpaid time off. I wish I could have taken more.

DishLady · Accepted Answer

“Parental Leave” should be the same amount of time for the mom and the dad because the first year especially is an “all hands on deck” sort of experience. In the US most women still currently only get a standard three-month block, which simply isn’t enough time — and we’re made to feel like we should thank our lucky stars to even get that much paid time off, which is ridiculous. We should have at least as much as what’s granted for any standard FMLA… don’t even get me started….

petitedollbabee · Accepted Answer

In NZ, paternity leave is a pathetic 2 weeks unpaid. My partner left his job so that he could be home with me and our first baby for the first 3 months before returning to his job, since he couldn’t book that much time off - his boss told him that he will have a job to come back to though.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

Fathers should get the exact same amt. of time that the mother gets! Some jurisdictions give 1wk, some give 2wks, some give up to 6 months of paid maternity leave. It depends on where you live. I feel that the fathers should get the exact same amt. of time mothers do. Father's are every bit as important for infant bonding and development as mother’s are, men need to be able to stay home and bond with, and raise their child.

I hope that helps.
Sincerely, Laura.

GeminiDiamond · Answer

It can extend up to 3 years. You get a parental leave from your employer, and a parental allowance from the state to compensate loss up until the child is 3. You are able to work part-time, up to 30 hours, and get benefits, recalculated, and the employer has to hold your position by law.

BetaBucks · Answer

Six weeks was good for both of mine, but my wife is a SAHM so it was different. If we both worked, I'd say more like 3-6 months each, and then off to strangers to raise the little one.

goaded · Answer

I took about 15 years. That might have been a bit much. (My wife had a higher paying and more flexible job than I did.)

loves2learn · Answer

4 months is really good. My husband got zero with our first child because HR FAILED TO INFORM HIM. I’m still bitter. He got his full 2 weeks with our second child. It was not enough.

Avicenna · Answer

I think 2 months is good- that's what I took with my three oldest (took one month right away and then another month several months later).

Grond21 · Answer

3 to 6 months is pretty good. I don't think it's realistic but it would be amazing if they could each take off a year

dustybiker2 · Answer

Don't they get three months or something in Italy? I first heard that and thought it was amazing. So great for both child and father. It should be like that everywhere.

exitseven · Answer

I think a year would be good. When my kids were born there was no paternity leave, My boss was not even going to give me the day off so I could be there to see my son being born. I went anyway and expected to be unemployed with a new baby.

DrPepper12 · Answer

The fact that you're having a discussion about it SCREAMS not a usa American.

Simslover92 · Answer

I think for as long as the mother which is 6 weeks in my state. It should be much longer. Like at least 6 months.

PBandJ_Nerd · Answer

I think for as long as he wants. A few weeks or months is good enough to help the mom with their baby.

Nikki1989 · Answer

You can get up to 18 weeks full paid leave here.

Charliefretz329 · Answer

I think it depends on the personal situation… it would be great to have time to help and bond but each family has their own unique needs and constraints

genericname85 · Answer

at least as much as the woman, cause a vather is as important to a child as the mother.

Anpu23 · Answer

Sorry I am not a fan of paternity leave, just take a day or two off work and back to the grindstone. It's how bills get paid and guys move up the ladder.

waterliliestxt · Answer

Same as mom, so the work is balanced. But that depends on the couples circumstances for sure

turnpost · Answer

It really should be flexible, everybody situation is quite different

Kelly6 · Answer

@apple1996 Dads should get 4-5 months to spend time with baby and help wife

Iron_Man · Answer

I don’t know if if they can get six months to a year off I doubt it

jahaims · Answer

A year. I got 6 weeks with my daughter and only a week with my son. Both times I used vacation time.

Lynx122 · Answer

I'm taking an unlimited leave from paternity.

BTigers96 · Answer

None, as long as the Mom is staying home with the baby.

AviatorTom · Answer

4 weeks paternity leave is more than enough, long enough to help out with the new baby.

Drewtate · Answer

2 weeks but if he's smart he will have lined up all his leave

convo_king89 · Answer

I mean the mom does most of the work having the kid, but the dad can help with recovery and heavy lifting like opening pickle jars the mom likes pickles.

DarkLegacy · Answer

They should have the same amount as women get

jjj101010 · Answer

Here u get 2 weeks by law

Nik1hil · Answer

6 months for mom, 4 months for dad

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

It should be at least a year, minimum

Hannajenky · Answer

6 months sounds about right

RedInnocent69 · Answer

As much as they can. Important for both parents.

Nice222 · Answer

Same as the mother.

RetroReviews · Answer

Still waiting... pic

slatyb · Answer

All they can get.

blondfrog · Answer

At least 3 months

MrGSpotHer · Answer

Men can do this that's a new concept to me..

ChinaGrove · Answer

Zero If you expect others to pay for it.

msc545 · Answer

3-6 months.

jack1924 · Answer

At less 2 months

butterfly_nake87 · Answer

3 weeks in India

jackinoff · Answer

As much as they want and can

How much paternity leave do you think dads should take when having a new baby?

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How much paternity leave do you think dads should take when having a new baby?

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