Question for the guys with kids

[darktiger]

I am trying to figure out how much time to take off from work for my newborn.

So my question to all the guys, how much time did you take off? How much time did you work from home?

[darktiger]

BTW here is a quick pic

[bondarnes]

I don't remember taking off any time other than the birth day, for any of our four children.

[Rson]

I have a 9 month and 2 yr old. I took 3 days off for the first and a few days off with second.

There really isn't a hard fast rule for this question. C-section no C dictates a few days because you have to help her out. Do you have relatives local? How well of a sleeper is He?
Is he needy? I would peg it at about about 4 days.

[JohnT]

I took off one week to help my wife with our newborn son almost 18 years ago. After that, it was her and her mom taking care of Daniel while I was at work. We already had another child in second grade at the time (ex's daughter from a previous marriage).

[toverman]

I took about a week off after the births of both my boys.

On a side note, when our first son was born, my wife – who'd planned on going back to work – said there was no way she could go back. So she took 18 months off work.

[dbphotos]

I took off 2 weeks with each of my kids and just cut back OT for a few weeks after that.

[photonewb]

I took 2 weeks a little after mine was born, but that was mostly because we brought her back to the mainland to visit family over Christmas.

Other than that, nothing...I worked the whole time...of course I was active duty Navy at the time too.

[darktiger]

Some more info I forgot to mention, not sure if it makes a difference. I have 400 hrs of vacation and 560 hrs of sick, so it would be paid for :)

I feel kind of bad requesting 2 weeks, but half of that two weeks I would be working from home.

[JohnT]

400 hrs. of paid vacation? That's 10 weeks. I wouldn't worry about taking two.

By the way, beautiful little boy you have there.

[Kalrog]

The year my 2 kids were born are the only 2 years I have used all of my vacation time. For them both I took a couple of days right when they were born and then when my wife went back to work I took another month off (about). This really just extended when the kids started daycare, but it was how we did it. All paid time off and I didn't work much at all during that time.

[ldelacruz]

Congrats!

[Digigeek]

I took a few days off with each - more with the first than the second. After the initial days off, it was shortened days when possible for a couple of weeks. But, my job is not regimented by a time clock nor do I have allocated vacation/personal time off. If I don't work, I don't eat.

We also had MIL helping out for a couple of weeks with each.

My wife took off going on 14 years now.

My advice to friends is never miss a birth, and take as much vacation time as you can to spend with the spouse and kids no matter how old they are. I don't know anybody who died wishing they worked more or skipped a vacation.

[Roadrnr]

Congrats!

I took a week off. My daughter was born on a Saturday and I took the following Monday through Friday off with exception to stopping by the office on Wed to make sure it hadn't fallen apart. Granted, I own my own business, but I'm also the only person here, so If I'm not here, it doesn't get done!

[klynam]

Take one week and be there 100% for your wife. Literally - be there 1-0-0-% for your wife to do whatever she wants or needs.

Lavish love and patience on her, let her know she is still your queen, and give her complete freedom to sleep and recover. Get up to care for the child during the nights. Get used to sleeping 1-3 hours at a time. You can make it like this for a week no problem and it will help YOU form a bond with your child that most father's NEVER form.

If you have the ability, the next step would be returning to work 4 days a week for 4-6 weeks. Work Mon-Tues-Thur-Fri, take off Wednesdays. This will get your sanity back and give you confidence things are okay at work. It will also help your wife transition to full time care, in 2 day increments rather than jumping directly to 5 days alone at a time.

If you do this, your wife will recover faster and happier, and you'll spend plenty of time with your child while she's asleep (which will be often if you give her this blessing), and the transition to full time care will be as smooth as a baby's...well...