Paternity leave: what should we do? (Read description)

Question

My husband gets paid 85% while on paternity leave, and he has 2 options:
-take 12 weeks all at once
-take 8 weeks that can be distributed throughout the first year whenever he wants
I’ll be a SAHM too so it’s not like we’ll need him to be home “when I go back” or anything.
We were leaning towards the 8 weeks distributed because 12 weeks all at once just seems kind of excessive and unnecessary when I’ll be a SAHM too...
But maybe it would it be nice to have all that time in the beginning for us all to adjust/bond together? Or would it be better for him to just take a month when baby is born, and then take another couple weeks here and there a few months later?

Answer

My husband doesn’t get any time off, he has to take vacation of unpaid days. If he had the choice, he would choose the 12 weeks!

Answer

my husband is using his 12 weeks all at once. i’ll be a SAHM too but after i give birth i want a few weeks to rest and heal, plus bonding time ! as soon as his 12 weeks are over he leaves for 45 days, he wants all the new baby time he can get

Answer

My husband would drive me nuts if he was home with me for 12 weeks straight 🤣

Answer

We are taking 12 weeks, I wouldn’t want the split time

Answer

I picked 8 weeks, but if you can afford 85% pay I’d actually rather 12 weeks up front! It’d be nice to have that extra month together as a family. Even if it’s not necessarily a “need”, definitely would be a luxury we’d enjoy. My fiancé is only taking 1-2 weeks off and has to use his PTO and sick time to be paid.

Answer

Make sure to check that he doesn’t have a certain amount of time to use all of his weeks off. My husband gets 4 weeks. He also is allowed to split them up, but just found out recently that if he splits them up he has a total of 12 weeks to use all of them. He was hoping to take 2 weeks off when the baby is due and 2 weeks off in the summer, but now he can’t. So he’s just doing the 4 weeks together.

Answer

I’d lean towards the 8 weeks but that’s just me. I’m sure he may want to go to the first doctors appointment and such later on. Or maybe stay home after a rough night

Answer

My hubby absolutely loved being home with me and our daughter when she was born. They grow so fast at that age and he really felt like a part of it. It’s really personal preference for you all but he should definitely take a couple weeks with you all and settle into a good routine before heading back to work.

Paternity leave: what should we do? (Read description)

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products