The benefits of taking paternity leave

Apart from being a tremendous joy in life, having a baby is a great responsibility. Throughout history, it has become evident that the most considerable part in child rearing almost exclusively pertains to mothers. In the world today, when it is expected of a woman to be both successful as a mother and as a businesswoman, this load can sometimes prove too much, and all the help they can get from early on is invaluable.

Here is where fathers play a significant role. Recent studies have shown that children develop faster when both parents are actively involved in their child’s development, and the bond that the child establishes with its parent is thus stronger and everlasting.

To achieve that, men should make themselves more available and need to rearrange their working hours and commitments. We shall now discuss the benefits of such an approach.

Men can be the help women need around babies

Many women would argue that men don’t know their way around babies. They are clumsy and don’t have the delicate touch. Changing diapers can also be quite a challenge, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If men took paternity leaves, they would have more time to practice and cope with these natural occurrences during baby’s first days.

Also, they can dedicate their time to attend schools of paternity and learn new and interesting strategies that would boost child’s development significantly. Being an integral part of a child’s upbringing gives out the message to all mothers out there that they are not alone and that men are willing to share in all duties and responsibilities.

Many countries have recognised this, and apart from maternity leaves, now offer fathers with a chance of taking up to two weeks of paid leave after the baby arrives. Such has been the practice in the UK for several years. No countries have done more for paternity than the Scandinavian nations, such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

For example, in Sweden, fathers can take up to 496 days of paid leave during the first years of a child’s life. The Swedes consider it necessary and productive, and they are willing to pay up to 80% of their wages which they are entitled to in their social plans.

No need for external help

By taking paternity leave, men can dedicate more time to their children and decrease the want of external help in the form of asking the grandparents to babysit. Although their help and advice are valuable, nothing is more rewarding than to say you have managed to do it all by yourself, no matter the obstacles you have come across on your way.

 

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