Parent Thread

Yeah usually it is

Anyone take paternity leave? Would it be best to try and take it all right after the baby is born or does it make sense to wait a few weeks or couple months when the wife goes back to work?

I took a month paternity leave right when the baby was born. A lot of people told me the baby wouldn't do anything the first month but ours was a terror. We were sleeping in shifts. Definitely helped her out.

I'd also suggest taking it right away. Getting everyone on a schedule will save your sanity. I've been a stay at home dad from the get go and the first month I couldn't in imagine leaving the wife home alone. She would have been a wreck.

My brother in law and sister worked it out that she took 6 months of maternity leave right when the baby was born, and he took 6 months of paternity leave for the following 6 months, meaning each of their children were home with a parent for the first full year of life. Seemed to work out well for them.

Would be nice if I could afford 6 months off.

It's Canada, man. They pay you for that shit.

Layzi_sl said:

Anyone take paternity leave? Would it be best to try and take it all right after the baby is born or does it make sense to wait a few weeks or couple months when the wife goes back to work?

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For our first kid I took 6 weeks when she was two months old because my wife started back at work then and I had saved up so much PTO. Our second kid, my new job gives three months paid so I took it right away.

I think whatever works best for you guys is the ideal option as others have said.

The kid only had a 30 minute second nap yesterday due to getting some Easter Bunny photos taking and holy mother of God he was a NIGHTMARE last night because of it. He went to bed just fine then at 10 he woke up screaming bloody murder. He'd calm down and as soon as he'd drift off to sleep he'd start screaming again. We didn't get to bed until 3am. There isn't much that has made me feel useless like trying to calm a screaming baby and failing miserably.

Before my daughter was born I always figured that the first few months would be incredibly boring and I would enjoy parenthood a lot more once she grew up a bit and was more interactive.

After reading some parenting books that go into the development and bonding that happens early on I made sure I was set up so I basically didn't have to work for the first 3 months and I am very grateful I did.

You won't ruin your kid if you can't take a bunch of paternity right when they are born, but if you can afford it and your job allows for it I'd recommend taking full advantage.

It is worth pointing out I basically work from home so I still get a bunch of time with my daughter even now, but if I did have to go into an office, now that I experienced having that time off, I would prioritize taking my PTO for right after my kid was born rather than putting it off till they were a bit older.

I took about 5 weeks off with both of my children and really enjoyed the time spent both with my wife and with my children. It was really helpful with the 2nd to keep him occupied and not feeling neglected with the new addition.

Thanks for all the feedback. August is coming fast...

I was going to post here the other day asking for help with my dog. She panics whenever the kid is near her, and sometimes she gets in such a panic to run away she'll knock him over - but I was more worried she'd end up cutting him with a claw or even worse feeling cornered and biting him.

Then this weekend something magical happened and she started following him around the house as he crawled and explored, kissing him and playing with him. It was a complete 180 out of nowhere, literally earlier in the day she was in panic mode. Phew.

Ok we didn't have a nanny nor did I want one haha

That's fine, and I don't criticize those that use one - just something we didn't want to do. It all worked out anyways, kid is doing well.

Yeah, dogs take time to get used to things, too. And once the baby is more mobile, the dog understands it more, I think. Dogs get quite protective of babies sometimes.