Most New Fathers Take Short or No Parental Leave After Childbirth

In the United States, many new fathers are not taking adequate time off following the birth of their children. A comprehensive survey conducted by researchers at Northwestern University and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago revealed that 64% of fathers reported taking less than two weeks of parental leave, or no leave at all, after their child's arrival. Only 36% of fathers managed to take more than two weeks off, highlighting a significant gap in paternal leave practices.

The survey, which is the first of its kind to analyze a representative sample of fathers across a state, identifies key barriers to taking leave. The most common obstacle cited by participants was the fear of job loss, which discourages many fathers from spending extended time with their newborns. According to study lead Clarissa Simon, a research associate at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, the availability of paid leave could significantly reduce these barriers, encouraging more fathers to stay home longer.

Published on June 10 in the journal Pediatrics, the study provides valuable insights into paternal leave behaviors based on data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for Dads (PRAMS for Dads). The data, collected from 261 fathers in Georgia shortly after the birth of their children between October 2018 and July 2019, show that most employed fathers wanted to be involved but faced systemic challenges.

Prior research underscores the importance of paternal involvement, linking it to better maternal health outcomes, increased breastfeeding duration, and safer infant sleep practices. Experts emphasize that early parental involvement helps fathers adapt to their new roles and fosters stronger family bonds.

Moving forward, researchers are expanding the survey to eight states, aiming to include all parents raising infants regardless of gender. The goal is to better understand parental behaviors and experiences, with a focus on creating supportive policies for families.

Overall, these findings underscore the need for policy reforms to promote paid parental leave and reduce employment-related fears that hinder fathers from being actively involved during the critical early days of their child's life.