Paternal Leave Boosts Maternal Health, Child Well‑Being and Family Finances

Paid paternity leave gives fathers time to bond with newborns, which research shows lowers mothers’ postpartum stress and depression and improves infant health. A Swedish study found that allowing fathers to take intermittent leave after birth reduced maternal complications, while other studies link at least two weeks of leave to stronger father‑child relationships that last up to nine years. Longer breastfeeding is also more common when both parents have paid time off, further benefiting infant survival. Beyond health, paid leave helps families avoid the financial strain of unpaid time off and high infant‑care costs, and it promotes workplace equity by reducing the penalty women face when taking leave. Countries such as Sweden, Norway, Japan, Austria and Germany use flexible, non‑transferable leave or bonus incentives to encourage fathers to participate.