Are you a proud parent? Will you take paid leave to be with your newborn? In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad discuss one of the most debated and important fatherhood and parenting issues, paternity leave. The dads offer their advice on parental leave. Author Jeremy Adam Smith weighs in on the conversation and discusses FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act), fathers rights, and the importance of a new dad bonding with a baby. DadLabs ep. 489 is brought to you by BabyBjorn.

CLAY Okay, I say a word, you say the first word that comes to mind. Paternity.

BRAD Suit.

CLAY Yes, but we’re going to change that.

BRAD To what?

CLAY Leave!

BRAD Okay.

CLAY It’s what we mean by Taking Back Paternity. We want people to think paternity leave rather than paternity test. It’s something we’re actually kind of serious about.

BRAD Today’s show on the subject of paternity leave is brought to you by BabyBjorn. Which is cool because if you look closely at their packaging -- this is a baby carrier cover. More pictures of dads than moms.

CLAY Why are we so high on paternity leave? Science.

BRAD So we see that dad’s involvement from the beginning is good for kids, but it’s good for dads as well.

CLAY Taking a paternity leave allows for that bonding moment, in the early going. And anecdotally, we’ve heard from a lot of active dads that there was a moment, in the first few days and weeks that set the course. True for you Daddy Brad?

BRAD Sure. When my oldest was born...

CLAY My oldest was a preemie...

BRAD But taking a leave is not something that all guys are comfortable with for a number of reasons.

CLAY One of the reasons that asking for a paternity leave is tough is that dads have very little legal support.

BRAD The Family Medical Leave Act guarantees twelve weeks of unpaid leave for either or both parents after the birth of the child.

CLAY So basically they can’t fire you for twelve weeks. Which doesn’t seem like all that much. Other countries, Canada, Sweden, UK -- have more generous programs. Is there anything that we can do about it to change things?

BRAD So I guess this would be a good time to talk about my leave.

CLAY Today’s show is brought to you by BabyBjorn. Dads in mind when they design, BabyBjorn.

BRAD Cause I am taking my full time away

CLAY We’re counting on it.