The list of things we covet from the Swedes is long—their effortless design, their clever kitchen gadgets, their easy-creamy oats, their delightful fika tradition… our Nordic friends just seem to do things right. And their approach to child-rearing is no exception.
In Sweden, there’s a phenomenon known as latte pappor—or “latte dads” (yes, as in coffee). And as a Swedish mom living in the U.S., here’s why I think it’s a trend we should be embracing stateside.
Simply put, latte pappor are dads on paternity leave. But the quirky descriptor comes from the fact that in Sweden, there are so many dads on parental leave. The government offers all parents 480 days of parental leave per child, with 90 days reserved exclusively for fathers (although they are actually entitled to take up to 240 days). As a result, it’s completely normal to see groups of dads at the playground, coffees in hand, or a pappa sipping a latte at a café while his baby naps in the stroller. (They need the caffeine if they’re going to look after a baby all day and night!) Did I mention that the 480 days of parental leave are paid? For the first 390 days, most parents receive 80 percent of their salary, up to a monthly cap of SEK 47,750 (about $4,650). After that, the compensation continues at SEK 180 ($16) per day.
Of course, the sad fact of the matter is that parents in the U.S. are not guaranteed paid parental leave by federal law, and many aren’t even entitled to unpaid leave. In fact, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about a quarter of American workers (regardless of gender) have access to paid parental leave. This is especially true for fathers, with only 13 percent of private employers providing paid paternity leave. A measly 13 percent! With so little paid leave is it any wonder that more than 70 percent of American dads return to work, full-time, within two weeks after the birth of their child?
“My husband was entitled to up to four months of leave at his job but it was paid so little that he couldn’t afford to take more than one week,” a mom-of-three living in California tells me.
And then there’s the stigma surrounding male caregivers, with many dads feeling pressured to take little to no leave. “I delivered on a Thursday and my husband was back to work that Monday,” shares another mom living in Maryland, adding that worrying about what his other colleagues would think combined with the low pay was the reasoning behind this decision.
This is in contrast to Sweden, where not only is parental leave mostly paid, but it’s also a normal part of family life. “The best part of it is that it’s so established,” says one dad in the short film Latte Pappas. “Legistlation has been in place for so long. There was never any problem with work or anything.”
There’s a strong case for both governments and companies to encourage fathers to take parental leave. Research shows that paternity leave leads to better outcomes for babies—higher breastfeeding rates and improved psychological health, stronger self-esteem, and greater life satisfaction for children, to name a few. It also benefits mothers by reducing the “motherhood penalty”, easing stress and depression and improving physical recovery. Not to mention what it can do for your relationship—according to Better Help, divorce is less likely in families where fathers take parental leave after welcoming a child.
Bottom line? Everyone wins when dads go on parental leave. And the biggest step toward a more balanced and fulfilling parenting experience in the U.S. is a national paid parental leave policy for all parents. But even then, it’s up to dads to take it. And when they do, I hope they enjoy it with a latte in hand.
