Becoming a parent is one of the most arduous tasks ever in one’s life. Newborn babies require their parents near them for some time in order to get used to the feel, touch, and smell of the parents which provides to be the most initial bonding between the newborn and the parents.

This is even recommended by the doctors as skin to skin contact also increases the weight of the infant. This is because when babies are receiving warmth from the mother or father, they don’t need to use their energy to regulate their body temperature. 10 minute of skin contact between parents and infant reduces their stress level and lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin.

Therefore many countries have special parental leaves to allow working parents to spend time off with their kids and promoting a healthy life. We have collected 14 such countries which have the most generous and wonderful parental leaves policies.

1Finland

Finland allows the expectant mother to start their paid maternity leaves 7 weeks before the due date. An additional 16 weeks of paid parental leave is given by government after the birth of the child. This maternity covers all mothers, whether employed, unemployed or student. The parents also have the option of splitting the leaves to work from home and take care of the child, once the child turns three.

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2Denmark

Denmark allows expectant mothers to take 4 weeks off before the birth and 14 weeks off after the child is born at full pay. The father also receives two weeks off to spend time with the mother and the child. An additional 32 weeks of paid leaves are available to be used as seen fit by the parents after the 14-week leaves are over.

After these 32 weeks are over and the child or the parents get sick; they can request for another 14 weeks off. The government covers all these 52 weeks of the leaves with pay, but not at full pay always.

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3Canada

Canada offers parental leaves for upto 17 weeks for new parents; with an additional 35 weeks on offer to be split as the leisure of the parents. Pregnant ladies can take maternity benefits 12 weeks before the due date. Canadian parents can take 12 or 18 months of combined maternity and parental leave.

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4Sweden

Swedish government gives parents 480 days of parental leave with 80% salary. The first 18 weeks are reserved for women and then the parents may split the days as they wish. Fathers also get 90 days of paid paternity leaves just for them.

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5Belgium

Expecting ladies can take upto 15 weeks of maternity leaves. Starting on the day of birth, for the next 30 days, the government pays the mother 80% of their salary; 75% for the rest of the days. Fathers too collect 10 days of paid leave where the first 3 days are 100% pay and the remainder of the 7 days is paid at 82% of their salary. Fathers have to use the first 10 days within the baby’s first four months of the birth.

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