Infrastructure consultant, Urban, was on leave for 10 months with his son Holger. "My wife and I try to be as equal as possible in our everyday life—bringing up our children is part of that effort. Our son Holger was diaper-free already at the age of 4 months, something which I am very proud of today." © Johan Bävman
Product developer Johan and his partner shared parental leave equally for their children Ebbe, Tyra, and Stina. "The financial loss that follows with my parental leave is worth every krona. Instead, I gain higher confidence as a dad for my kids, understanding for my partner, and stronger ties to my children that, as I see it, are important for their growing up. © Johan Bävman
Local government engineer Fredric and his partner alternated 50/50.
"We thought that it was important that both of us would be able to be with our child during all development stages, and so we chose to be home both of us during the first four months and then alternate." © Johan Bävman
Construction engineer Samad took leave jointly for the first four months, thereafter six months on his own with the twins Parisa and Leia, shown here at one week old. "The children were not planned...it was a shock, so the jitters around becoming a dad became very real. Once I googled 'fetus in the twelfth week,' we could no longer go ahead with the planned abortion." © Johan Bävman
Artist Loui took leave for one year to be with his son Elling. "There was never any discussion about who should stay with Elling. That we would split parental leave more or less equal has always been obvious to us. Had I not had the opportunity to be at home with our son for almost a year, I would probably not have known who he is as a person and what his needs are." © Johan Bävman
Construction engineer Marcus took parental leave with his oldest son Ted for six months and youngest Sigge for 8 months. "As a mother, I think you grow into parenthood during pregnancy. For fathers, it all happens very suddenly at childbirth. A Dad is not something you become over one day. I think it takes a long time to become more secure in your role as a parent." © Johan Bävman
Purchaser Ola took eight months of leave to stay with his son Gustav.
"Culture needs to change on a grand scale. More male role models must be promoted. The State needs to become better at providing information regarding the advantages that parental leave gives both parents." © Johan Bävman
Industrial design student Juan took 18 months of parental leave with Ivo and Alma. "I received many questions from my Spanish family when I told them that I was going to take time off from work to be with the children." © Johan Bävman
Journalist Peter took one year with Mira. "The exercise mode emerged during one of many sleepless nights when I was up with our daughter. She went quiet when I did knee bends in the middle of the night with her in the Baby Bjorn Carrier, and I felt like 'Finally I can also comfort my daughter!'" © Johan Bävman
Göran is on a ten-month study leave to look after his daughter Liv.
"The baby sling is a substitute for the closeness between mother and child during breastfeeding. My daughter feels very secure in the sling and sleeps in it for two hours in the day, and often at night time. When Liv sleeps, I take the opportunity to get some well-needed rest—a luxury for a parent." © Johan Bävman