Which Parent Should Stay at Home Wth the Baby
How to Determine Whether Mom or Dad is the Best Full-Time Caregiver
Nov 5, 2009
In the middle of all of the excitement of pregnancy, one of the big decisions expectant parents have to make is whether or not one of the parents should stay at home to care for the new baby and if so, which one.
Although stay-at-home moms are still more common than stay-at-home dads, no longer can it be assumed that the mother will be the parent to stay at home. Here are a few things to consider when deciding which parent should stay home to care for the baby.
The Parent Wth the Lowest Salary May Opt to Stay at Home
If one parent has a much higher salary than the other, most likely the person with the highest salary needs to continue working.
In addition to looking at the actual salaries, expectant parents should also consider other benefits and costs related to their jobs including health care, flexible hours, costs and time spent commuting and so on. It’s important to consider all the factors that will determine how much will be lost or gained by the decision for someone to become a stay-at-home mom or dad.
The Parent With Work-from-Home Opportunities May Opt to Leave the Traditional Workforce
Many expectant parents feel they can’t afford to stay at home since there is no way they can make it on one salary. Thankfully, some parents have the option of working from home.
When determining which parent should stay home with the baby, it’s important to consider which parent has the best work-from-home opportunities. It’s possible that both parents can keep their jobs, with the stay-home-parent simply working from home rather than from the office.
Even if it is necessary for one parent to quit a traditional job, one parent may be better suited for work from home jobs.
The More Nurturing and Domestic Parent May be the Best One to Stay Home With Baby
Not everyone is cut out to be home with a baby all day. Though the job is extremely important, those who are not natural nurturers may feel less fulfilled staying home. Patience and a caring attitude in general are important traits for the stay-at-home parent.
Also, most likely the stay-at-home parent will be tasked with more domestic duties such as cleaning, cooking and running errands. These jobs can be done well by both men and women, but one thing is certain; the parent who is out working all day is most likely to expect the stay-at-home mom or dad to take on more of the domestic duties around the house.
Stay-at-Home Dads May Feel Isolated
It’s easy for parents who stay home with their children to feel isolated at times due to the lack of interaction with other adults. Though this is common for both stay-at-home moms and dads, dads who opt to stay home with their children may feel more isolated since there aren’t very many other dads who choose to stay home.
A man may feel out of place on outings to the park, playground and other places popular with stay-at-home parents because he may be the only father present. He and his children may also be less likely to be asked on play dates since many women may feel awkward inviting a man to attend gatherings traditionally attended only by women and children.
Expectant Parents Have to Choose Which Stay-At-Home Option is Best for the Family
Deciding which parent should stay home with the new baby is no longer an easy choice. Looking at income loss and potential work from home opportunities for each parent, considering which parent would be more content handling domestic duties, and thinking through feelings of isolation that a stay-at-home dad may face are all important factors for expectant parents to consider before making the big decision to stay home after the birth of the baby.
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