Finding out you’re going to be a dad comes with a pretty long to-do list. Somewhere between getting ready for the baby and figuring out how life is about to change, there’s also work: How much time can you actually take off? Will you still get paid? And is your job protected while you’re gone?
The frustrating part is that there isn’t a single answer that applies to every dad in the U.S. What people often call “maternity leave for men” is usually paternity or parental leave, and what you’re entitled to depends on your employer, where you live, and whether you qualify for programs such as FMLA.
We’ll break down the leave you may be entitled to, what could be paid versus unpaid, and what to ask your employer before your baby arrives.
Key Takeaways
- Maternity leave for men is usually called paternity or parental leave. It can apply after the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
- Eligible dads may get up to 12 weeks under FMLA, but this leave is generally unpaid, and not every employee qualifies.
- Paid leave depends on where you work and live. Employer benefits, state programs, and available PTO can all affect how much income you receive while you’re home.
- Don’t assume your company’s parental leave policy is your only option. Check FMLA eligibility, state benefits, PTO, and employer-paid leave before deciding how much time you can take.
- California dads may have additional options. Eligible workers can receive up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave benefits, while CFRA may provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected bonding leave.
- Plan before submitting your leave dates. Confirm how many weeks you qualify for, which are paid, whether different benefits run at the same time, and what happens to your job and benefits while you’re away.
What is maternity leave for men?
Maternity leave for men is usually called paternity leave or parental leave. It gives dads time away from work after the birth, adoption, or placement of a child. Depending on where you live and work, that time may be paid or unpaid and may include job protection if you meet the eligibility requirements.
More dads are taking parental leave than ever before
This is changing, but dads still tend to take much less time off than moms. Dads taking time off after a new baby has become much more common. U.S. Census Bureau data found that 50.1% of first-time fathers used paid leave after their child’s birth between 2014 and 2022. Before 1994, only around 18% of new fathers used any paid leave [census.gov].
And taking leave isn’t only about having extra hands at home. Research has associated fathers taking paternity leave with greater involvement in childcare later on, which gives dads another reason to use the time they’re entitled to rather than automatically heading straight back to work.
Do men get maternity leave?
Yes. Men can get time off after the birth, adoption, or placement of a child, although it’s usually called paternity leave or parental leave rather than maternity leave. In the U.S., eligible fathers may qualify for job-protected leave under federal or state law, while paid leave depends on their employer, state, and available benefits.
What to do if your employer doesn’t offer paid leave
- Check your contract and local labor laws for statutory leave.
- Ask whether unpaid leave, flexible hours, or remote work is available.
- Plan financially for unpaid time off.
- Request leave early and in writing.
- If leave is legally required but denied, contact your labor department or an employment lawyer.
Is maternity leave for men paid?
Sometimes, but paid paternity leave isn’t guaranteed for every dad in the U.S. FMLA can provide eligible fathers with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave, but that leave is generally unpaid. Pay may instead come from an employer’s parental leave policy, a state paid-leave program, or accrued PTO such as vacation time.
5 ways dads can maximise their time off
Before automatically requesting one block of leave, find out exactly what you can combine or split. A little planning could give you considerably more useful time at home.
- Check whether benefits can run together: Ask HR whether paid parental leave, PTO, and any state benefits can be combined or must run at the same time.
- Consider splitting your leave: Where the rules allow it, you might take time immediately after the birth and save another portion for later rather than using everything at once.
- Think about your partner’s leave too: Staggering your leave may allow one parent to stay home with the baby for longer before childcare begins.
- Save some PTO if you can: Babies don’t stop needing you when parental leave ends. Keeping a few days available for pediatrician appointments, illnesses, or childcare problems can be useful.
- Ask before assuming you need consecutive weeks: Some programs and employers allow intermittent bonding leave, while others require approval or have specific rules about how leave can be taken.
How long do men get for maternity leave?
In the U.S., eligible dads can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave under FMLA for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. That doesn’t mean every dad automatically gets 12 weeks, though. Your actual leave can depend on FMLA eligibility, state programs, employer benefits, and available paid time off.
Leave lengths can vary
Seeing “12 weeks” doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what you’ll get. Your own leave can depend on:
- How long you’ve worked for your employer: Some leave programs have minimum employment requirements.
- How many hours you’ve worked: FMLA, for example, has an hours-worked requirement.
- Your employer: Your workplace may have its own parental leave policy with a different number of weeks.
- Where you live: Some states have their own family or parental leave programs.
- How you’re allowed to take it: Depending on the rules that apply, leave may need to be taken together or may be available in separate periods.
How can dads prepare before parental leave begins?
Before parental leave starts, confirm your leave dates, pay, benefits, and return-to-work date with HR, then create a clear handover for anything that can’t wait until you’re back. At home, get the essentials ready, review your budget if your income will change, and decide with your partner how you’ll handle the first few weeks.
Conversations to have before your baby arrives
You can’t plan exactly what life with a newborn will look like, but there are a few conversations worth having before you’re both exhausted and trying to figure them out at 3 a.m.
- “What do you need from me after the birth?” Talk about what support your partner expects, particularly while they’re physically recovering.
- “How are we handling nights?” Discuss feeds, diaper changes, settling the baby, and what you can realistically share, especially if one parent is breastfeeding.
- “Who’s handling everything that isn’t the baby?” Meals, laundry, groceries, pets, cleaning, and visitors still exist after you get home. Decide what you’ll take ownership of rather than waiting to be asked.
- “What happens if money gets tight?” If any portion of your leave is unpaid or partially paid, know what the household budget will look like before your first smaller paycheck arrives.
- “What happens when my leave ends?” Talk about childcare, work schedules, nighttime responsibilities, and how things may need to change once one or both of you return to work.
The practical stuff is only part of getting ready. There are plenty of things you’ll probably wonder about once the baby is actually here, so keeping a few genuinely useful tips for new parents nearby can save you from Googling everything.
Dad’s Leave Planner (Week-by-Week)
Download this PDF to start using!
Ways to stay involved once you’re back at work
Going back to work can feel strange after spending several weeks in the middle of everything at home. One of the easiest ways to stay involved is to take ownership of parts of your baby’s day, rather than only stepping in when your partner asks for help.
- Make one routine yours: Bath time, the first morning diaper, bedtime, or an evening bottle (you can use a bottle warmer to make things easier) can become regular dad-and-baby time.
- Take over when you walk through the door: Even 30 minutes with the baby can give your partner a proper break while giving you uninterrupted time together.
- Stay involved in the admin too: Know when pediatrician appointments are happening, what supplies are running low, and what’s changing with feeding or sleep.
- Use weekends for more than playtime: Take a morning feed, handle a nap, pack the diaper bag, or take the baby out yourself. Being involved includes the work as well as the fun parts.
- Adjust as your baby changes: The routine you had at 2 months won’t necessarily work at 6 months. Keep finding new things that can become yours.
Going back to work can bring its own emotional adjustment too. Dads can experience more than the usual exhaustion or stress after having a baby, so it’s worth knowing the signs of postpartum depression in dads and when what you’re feeling deserves more attention.
First-Time Dad Confidence Checklist
What if you live in California?
California dads may have access to both paid benefits and job-protected bonding leave. Eligible workers can receive up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (PFL) to bond with a new child, with benefits generally replacing about 70-90% of wages, depending on income. PFL provides payments, though it does not, by itself, protect your job [edd.ca.gov].
Eligible dads may separately qualify for up to 12 weeks of job-protected bonding leave under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) within the first year after a birth, adoption, or foster placement. To qualify, you generally need to have worked for an employer with at least 5 employees for more than 12 months and completed at least 1,250 hours of work during the previous 12 months.
So, in California, don’t only ask HR, “Do I get paid paternity leave?” Ask what you qualify for under both PFL and CFRA, because one can help replace your paycheck while the other may protect your leave and right to return to work.
Conclusion: Before you decide how much leave to take…
Don’t assume you can’t afford much time off or that the number of weeks in your company handbook is your only option. Check what you’re actually entitled to first. FMLA, state benefits, employer-paid leave, and PTO can all affect how much time you can realistically spend at home.
Use the Dad’s Leave Planner to put your dates, pay, and available leave in one place before speaking to HR. Then keep the First-Time Dad Confidence Checklist for the part that comes after the paperwork (actually bringing your baby home).
Here are some products you’ll find incredibly useful:
FAQs
How many days do men get for maternity leave?
There is no set number of days for every dad in the U.S. Eligible fathers can take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave under FMLA after the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. Your employer or state may provide additional or paid parental leave.
Do fathers get paid during maternity leave?
Not necessarily. FMLA provides eligible dads with job-protected leave, but it is generally unpaid. You may still receive income through employer-paid parental leave, a state paid-family-leave program, or available PTO, depending on where you live and work.
What do you call maternity leave for men?
Maternity leave for men is usually called paternity leave or parental leave. Paternity leave specifically refers to time taken by a father after welcoming a child, while parental leave is a broader term that can apply to either parent.
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Healthier Baby Today articles are reviewed for accuracy and updated as guidance changes.
Last updated: August 31, 2026
