Paternity Leave in the UK: What You Need to Know
By: Luke Finch, First Year Dad
Tags: Dads, Paternity Leave, Parenting, Fatherhood, Dad To Be

Prepare for your paternity leave

You don’t want to spend your paternity leave putting together nursery furniture or preparing for your absence from work.

Though we can’t know when exactly when a baby will make their appearance, you should do all you can to prepare in advance.

Most babies are born between three weeks before the due date or two weeks after. Therefore it’s wise to have everything prepared for your paternity leave to begin by the 35th week of pregnancy.

If the due date is creeping up and the subject hasn’t been approached at work on how tasks will be managed in your absence, be proactive and start preparations yourself.

As the due date gets closer, you might choose to set a particular ringtone just for when you’re partner calls. If you can’t be contacted by your mobile, make sure they know how to reach you.

What to buy before paternity leave begins

Outside of work, ensure you have all you need to care for a newborn ready before the beginning of your paternity leave. The main essentials to buy are:

A Car Seat (have it unboxed and learn how to secure it before the due date)

Somewhere safe for them to sleep. We recommend a crib that sits next to your bed

Clothes (be aware that most newborns don’t fit 0–3 months sized clothes)

Nappies, wipes and a changing mat

Somewhere to wash them and stuff to clean them with

A pram

Swaddles or a sleep bag for them to sleep in

Formula, bottles, and a way to sterilise them (even if breastfeeding is the plan, it can’t hurt to have these as a backup)

Food is an important consideration for the first day at home with a newborn

Take on the responsibility of preparing food. If you’re not usually the one preparing meals, bear in mind that you may have to step up your kitchen skills. Don’t expect your partner to be up to cooking after delivering the baby. You may even want to start practising now.

Less sleep will mean less energy; you may want some snacks and treats for yourself to help you keep going.

I’ve known some parents to prepare and freeze home-cooked meals well in advance for those first weeks of parenthood, so they have nothing to do but chuck it in the oven come dinner time. Or you could only buy ready-to-cook meals that need little effort on your part.

Do you need to buy a gift for mum?

In recent years, “push presents” have grown in popularity. A push present is a gift from a new dad given to the new mum soon after the arrival of their baby. The gift is intended for the mum, not the baby. You’ll know whether your partner might expect such a gift or not. If you choose to, then obviously, it’s something you’ll need to have thought about in advance of your paternity leave starting. It doesn’t need to be expensive; something meaningful is best.

Plan and prepare mentally

Besides what you need to buy before paternity leave begins, it helps to prepare in other ways. Discuss with your partner how you’ll both manage responsibilities during your paternity leave. Create a plan, and you’ll know what’s expected and who’s responsible for what.

Worry, stress, anxiety (whichever term you choose) can begin to set in for expectant dads as the due date inches closer. There is, of course, no way to get real experience of being a dad before you become one. However, reading about what to expect can help alleviate some worry. Remember that millions of men have been in your exact position and things have turned out just fine.