Have you thought about taking a paternity leave? Becoming a new parent can be daunting, especially if you’re the primary caregiver or responsible for getting up in the middle of the night to tend to your child’s needs.
To take care of yourself and your family, it’s crucial to find ways to balance life before and after the baby arrives.
Studies have shown that dads who take paternity leave are happier than those who don’t, but many new fathers don’t know how to get the most out of their time off work.
Taking advantage of your paternity leave isn’t just an opportunity to bond with your baby. It can also have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
Here are six ways you benefit from taking advantage of your company’s paternity leave policies.
You Become a Better Parent
Giving birth and having a child change everything about you as a person. Parenthood is an entirely natural experience for many, but it is not easy to navigate at first.
Most new parents worry about doing everything right, and some even have trouble bonding with their newborns in those first few weeks.
But it’s important to remember that every baby is different and what works for one may not work for another. The sooner you learn to accept that idea, the better your parenting journey will be.
Giving yourself time off after you welcome your new bundle of joy into your home will help to strengthen your bond with them—and allow you to reassess who you are as a parent before returning to work full-time.
Improve your mental health
The benefits of paternity leave are real, and it can help improve mental health. It helps reduce stress for new parents by allowing them to spend time with their newborn, even if it’s just for a few weeks.
There’s also evidence that men who take paternity leave have an easier time bonding with their children than fathers who don’t take advantage of these policies.
This is especially important since a father-child bond is associated with lower rates of behavioral problems in children and increased well-being in adults.
Finally, it can save money for families on healthcare and mental health treatments down the road.
Increased Happiness and Fulfillment
Paternity leave is as much about spending time with your newborn as it is about you. The American Psychological Association reveals that taking time off from work to bond with a child helps increase happiness and fulfillment. It also has positive effects on mothers, too.
Plus, parents are more likely to feel satisfied with their overall life when given paternity leave after birth. Plus, being at home with an infant will help your relationship become stronger.
So while you may worry that staying home isn’t good for your career or could hurt you professionally down the road (it’s OK if you do; many of us worry), take comfort in knowing that making sure your mental health is healthy now may pay off later.
Children Become Healthier
Stay-at-home dads, who often assume childcare responsibilities, positively affect children’s health.
Research shows that fathers whose care giving roles are either new or nontraditional tend to be more aware of their children’s development and needs. As a result, they adjust their parenting accordingly.
Parents are likely to get involved in child-focused activities such as reading and playtime. Studies also suggest that because stay-at-home dads are so engaged in their kids’ lives, they enjoy better physical and mental health.
As caregiving fathers become increasingly common in modern society, growing evidence suggests that parenting roles affect men just as much—if not more than—women.
It Comes With Financial Benefits
Fortunately, a little-known provision in FMLA allows eligible employees to use up to 12 weeks of their own paid leave. This is after welcoming a new child into their family.
It is an opportunity many fathers don’t know about. In addition, companies cover some of that pay during paternity leave as an incentive for fathers to participate.
Staying home with your new child is great, but it doesn’t pay any bills. You might even have to take time off work without pay.
Increase Productivity When Back At Work
Though you’ll undoubtedly miss your baby when you’re not with them, paternity leave can also make you more productive when you are back at work.
Taking 10 to 12 weeks of leave after a child is born can increase men’s productivity over their lifetime. That’s great if you asked me.
Men who took paternity leave increased their earnings by between 3% and 9%. So if there were ever a time to take advantage of parental benefits for parents, it would be now.
Conclusion
Contrary to what you might think, new parents who take paternity leave experience benefits that aren’t limited to their mental health.
These parents also feel more involved in day-to-day family life. They report higher levels of happiness and fulfillment at work
Paid paternity leave and all of its potential benefits has value for new parents and companies as a whole.
Giving parents adequate time off can ensure an easier transition into parenthood. It also keeps you happy and motivated at work.