Do Not Miss out on the Joys of Co-Parenting: Here's How to Effectively Utilize Paternity Leave

How should fathers make the most of their paternity leave? A mom gives out tips with the help of a few good dads.

The Indian Express describes parenting as a matter that makes for an ideal case of equal partnership and responsibility.

Paternity leave is believed to have been created for this reason.

However, more than these, paternity leave is a privilege given to fathers, not only to be a helping hand to the new mom but, most importantly, to experience equal joy in co-parenting and raising a child.

Thus, paternity leave should not be wasted and instead used wisely.

What to do during paternity leave?

Mom and writer Pooja Sardana, who have spent more than ten years raising two kids, partnered with dads in various parenting stages to put together a list of how dads can make their paternity leave worthwhile to the two humans whom it matters the most - the new momma and the baby.

1. Set up the village for the child.

As the famous parenting saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child." Thus, daddies get the village in place so the family can have additional hands to help take care of the baby and raise the kid. The village can consist of a well-chosen caregiver, either full or part-time, who can relieve the mom for a few hours; the grandparents, who probably know better than the couple how to take care of babies; and family members and friends who can take turns preparing food or doing groceries for the exhausted mom and dad.

Let these people know how you want their assistance and support and the limitations, as they need to trust the parents' abilities to learn on the parenting job, especially the decision-making.

2. Learn the basics of child management.

Do not go to war without the right weapons. This ensures that the moms are not the only ones doing all the work. Dads need to research, read books, ask questions, learn about how to change a diaper, how to give baby a bath, how to get bottles sterilized and ready, how to get the baby to sleep, as well as what temperature of the milk is to be offered to the baby. Yet, more than just learning, dads should ensure that they practice what they have learned and assist the mom as much as possible. Equal turns and equal responsibility will make taking care of an infant much more bearable and enjoyable.

3. Be prepared to offer emotional support.

According to Sardana, once the first cry is heard, everything both parents read or learned or planned goes out of the window. Thus, the couple must have each other, especially for the new momma.

Hormonal imbalance and postpartum should not be taken lightly, and how fathers handle this sensitive season in a mother's life can be crucial in this stage.

Dads are encouraged to read and understand the timeline of postpartum hormone changes, not only to prepare themselves for what's going to happen but, most especially, to know how to handle what is to come. Mothers undergo "immense physical, emotional and hormonal upheaval and a lot of self-doubts." Every little thing might be a trigger, and every little decision might create too much pressure. Fathers should be there to hold the mothers' hands or hug them and be their comfort that they are never alone and that everything will be figured out together.

This is also why the village is essential and has to be in place so that when parents need to be alone to talk about personal issues or when they want to breathe, the baby can still be well-taken care of.