Let me start this topic right off the bat with an overarching fact about the subject: America does not do enough to support parents.

There is no federally provided paid parental leave, and America is one of the only countries in the world with this problem. The only thing provided by the US government is protection from losing your job when you go out on a Family Medical Leave Act leave of absence for up to 12 weeks. Companies that provide paid parental leave for their employees are doing so as an added benefit, not because they are required to do so by the federal government.

Paid leave for non-birthing parents tends to be less common (or at least less time) than what’s provided for birthing parents. Obviously it is important for someone giving birth to get time away from work. Birthing a child is a significant medical event, and while some people recover from it faster than others, getting back to work ASAP should never be the goal. But the expectation for the non-birthing parent to get right back to work with little to no time off is surprisingly common. Giving in to this expectation is robbing the whole family unit of huge benefits. Here are some of the most important reasons to take as much time away from work as possible once Baby arrives.

1. Bonding with Baby

In the first few weeks of life, infants can barely see a few feet away from their faces. Getting them familiar with your face, smell, and touch will really set your relationship up for success in the months and years to come. Staying home for as many of their first weeks as possible will accelerate those bonding benefits.

2. Helping Mom Recover

As I mentioned, giving birth is a very significant medical event, and for some women the recovery can be one of the most challenging parts. Formerly simple tasks become challenging, like walking, taking the stairs, and going to the bathroom, among other things. An extra hand around the house to help care for your newborn will make an enormous difference in helping her focus on getting back to being herself again.

3. Childcare is Expensive

New flash, right? If you can make it work, planning your leave to stagger with mom’s can maximize the amount of time Baby can be at home with at least one non-working parent.

Try not to let staggering your leave timing keep you from taking some time off right away. I took two weeks of PTO right away, and then when my wife’s leave ended I started my formal paternity leave. I got the best of both worlds with that arrangement: quality bonding time right away, and extended time later so we didn’t even need to think about childcare for almost six months.

4. Partners get PPD/PPA Too

Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) are unfortunately common in new moms, and it’s a very serious topic in itself. But non-birthing parents also get these conditions, and it should be taken seriously.

Unless you have been blessed with an amazing job that boosts your mental health, time away from work will help you feel better (or at least work won’t contribute to feeling worse).

With all these benefits and more, make sure to take time off work if you’re able. Even if your employer doesn’t pay you while you’re out on paternity leave, try to budget ahead so you can afford to take as much time as you can when your baby arrives. If you’re what the government would call a “qualified employee”, your employer legally can’t fire you for taking up to 12 weeks to bond with your newborn within a year of them being born. So don’t be afraid of losing your job or going against the grain in a country where paternity leave is only recently gaining traction. Be the best parent you can be, and take the time.