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Letter From The Brazilian Society Of Pediatrics Defends Urgent Expansion To Strengthen Family Bond And Maternal Mental Health
The new labor law that expands paternity leave to at least 30 days has entered the public health radar. The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP) has just released an open letter asking Congress to approve projects that have been stalled for years, arguing that the current model of five days is insufficient and outdated in light of scientific evidence.
The document from the medical entity emphasizes studies that show how paternal presence in the first weeks of a baby’s life helps with breastfeeding, the father’s cognitive development as a caregiver, and the emotional balance of the family.
The SBP’s proposal is that paternity leave be extended to between 30 and 60 days, a measure considered essential for the child’s health and parental co-responsibility.
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Pediatricians Enter The Debate And Demand Immediate Action From The Legislature
According to the SBP, Brazil is still adopting an archaic logic by treating paternity leave as something symbolic. The current law provides for five consecutive days of leave, extendable to up to 20 days only in companies registered in the Citizen Company program. In practice, thousands of fathers return to work even before the baby leaves the critical phase of neonatal adaptation.
The medical entity states that the science is clear about the benefits of a longer leave for fathers. International studies such as those conducted by Harvard researchers indicate that at least four weeks of leave promote functional changes in the father’s brain, making him more sensitive to the baby’s signals, more attentive, and better able to share caregiving responsibilities.
This paternal presence also reduces the physical and emotional burden on the mother, helping to prevent cases of postpartum depression.
Longer Leave Means More Bonding, Health, And Equality
The SBP letter further highlights that the expansion of paternity leave is not just a labor issue but a social investment. The more the father participates in the early life of the child, the greater the chance of solid emotional bonds, the lower the risk of parental abandonment, and the more balanced the gender relations at home.
In addition to emotional and health aspects, the expansion of leave can have positive effects on the child’s future academic performance and on building more structured families.
In countries like Norway, Sweden, and Germany, the parental leave period can exceed three months, with a phased return to work and incentives for sharing between spouses.
Even in light of this evidence, the bills proposing the expansion remain stalled in the National Congress. The SBP wants to reverse this scenario with technical and institutional pressure, arguing that this is an urgent, modern agenda with a wide social impact.
And you, do you think Brazil needs to reconsider this policy? The new labor law on paternity leave can really change the game for Brazilian families? Share your opinion in the comments; we want to hear real experiences from those who live this in practice.
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