The additional birth leave that came into effect on July 1, 2026, changes the game for couples expecting a child. Preparing for the arrival of the baby is no longer just about buying baby gear: it’s also about coordinating each parent’s rights to increase co-presence during the first weeks.
Additional Birth Leave 2026: Planning Parental Co-Presence
The Social Security financing law for 2026 (law no. 2025-1403 of December 30, 2025) created an additional birth leave of one to two months, compensated by Social Security, available to each employed parent. This leave must be taken within nine months following the birth or arrival of the child and can be taken simultaneously or alternately by both parents.
In practice, a second parent can now combine their 25 days of paternity leave with this new provision. The result: about three months of presence with the baby during the first year, without cutting into parental leave rights.
We recommend setting the leave schedule as early as the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. The employer must be informed within the deadlines set by the decrees of May 30, 2026, and anticipating the distribution between simultaneity and alternation avoids poorly managed overlaps with maternity leave.
To create the baby registry and organize the return home, some useful references are available on babybloom.fr, allowing you to focus administrative energy on leave procedures rather than logistical details.
Baby Room and Sleeping: Safety Standards to Follow
The official public health recommendation remains to have the infant sleep in the parents’ room during the first months, in their own bed. We observe that many young parents set up a dedicated room as early as the eighth month of pregnancy, even though the baby will not sleep there for several weeks.
Instead, prioritize the sleeping space in your own room. A compliant crib, a firm mattress that fits the crib exactly, no bumper pads, no duvet, no pillows: the infant’s sleeping arrangement consists of a fitted sheet and a sleeping bag. Decorative accessories sold in sets (canopy, stuffed animals, positioning pillows) have no place in the sleeping area.
Sleeping Mistakes Inherited from Previous Generations
Some practices that were once common are now formally discouraged. Prolonged sleeping in the car outside of travel, using the carrycot as a daily bed, or stomach sleeping are among the habits that have evolved with current medical data. If grandparents are involved in childcare, a quick review of these rules avoids misunderstandings.
Baby Registry: Aim for Functionality Rather Than Exhaustiveness
The typical lists circulated by baby gear stores often contain around forty items. We recommend distinguishing three categories before making any purchases.
- Regulated equipment to buy new: car seat group 0/0+, compliant crib, suitable mattress. These items affect the infant’s safety and must meet current standards at the time of purchase.
- Functional equipment that can be bought used: stroller, bouncer, clothes for the first months. The turnover rate is high, wear is often low, and the savings are significant.
- Equipment to postpone: high chair, developmental toys for six months and older, safety gates. Buying too early clutters and generates premature expenses.
The car seat deserves special attention. It is the only piece of equipment whose incorrect installation can have serious consequences. We observe that the majority of car seats are improperly installed during the first trip from the maternity ward. Have the installation checked by a professional or at a specialized store before the big day.
Hospital Bag: Separate Items for Mother and Newborn
Preparing the hospital bag in two separate bags simplifies the stay. The first bag contains the mother’s items: administrative documents (health insurance card, family record book, pregnancy follow-up file), comfortable clothing, hygiene products, postpartum pads.
The second bag is reserved for the newborn:
- Bodysuits and pajamas in newborn and one-month sizes (plan for both, as the baby’s size is uncertain)
- Light sleeping bag suitable for the season
- Size 1 diapers and changing products (liniment or cleansing water)
- Hat and socks, even in summer (the newborn’s thermoregulation is immature)
The baby’s bag should be accessible without opening the main suitcase. In the delivery room, the medical staff needs the first bodysuit and diaper immediately.
Returning Home and First Weeks: Anticipating Postpartum Recovery
The postpartum period remains the most underprepared phase. Urinary leaks after childbirth affect a significant portion of women and justify early pelvic rehabilitation. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a private midwife before childbirth to secure a slot in the weeks following the birth.
The logistical preparation for the return also concerns the couple’s meals. Freezing meals starting from the seventh month of pregnancy, building a stock of non-perishable products, identifying a grocery delivery service: these actions prevent the first weeks from turning into an obstacle course.
The new additional birth leave changes the dynamics of returning home. With the possibility for both parents to be present simultaneously, the distribution of nighttime tasks (diaper changes, bottles, or breastfeeding) can be organized in shifts rather than overloading one parent. Integrating this parameter into the preparation for the baby’s arrival shifts the focus from equipment to concrete family planning.