Time for parents to bond with and care for their babies.
The time right after a baby is born or adopted is a time of extraordinary growth, development, and connection for a family. Parents and their babies need dedicated time together to develop close, nurturing relationships that set the foundation for a child’s healthy development. They also need time to care for their child or other family members during serious illness. In the absence of a national paid leave policy, many families were left without means of financial support throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Some had to make difficult choices for their children’s care because they simply could not do without a paycheck and were unable to take the time off to meet those family needs.
Paid leave policies could expand paid time off options for parents who work, giving them the time they need to bond with and care for their babies during those critical early months – without jeopardizing their ability to make ends meet.