Table of Contents

• Parenting Manga “Ask an Older Dad for Tips on Raising a Child “
• Support for “childcare” fathers! Advice from senior fathers for pre-dads

Parenting Manga “Ask an Older Dad for Tips on Childcare.”

Profile
Eiichi
After working for a design company in Tokyo, he became a freelance illustrator. He is a hard-working father who creates animation, manga, and illustrations, including winning the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival’s International Short Film Showcase Division Excellence in Animation Award.

Support for “childcare” fathers! Advice from senior fathers for pre-dads

Support for “childcare” fathers! Advice from senior fathers for pre-dads

　In an effort to change the mindset of society to think of “childcare leave” not as a period of time off from work, but as a period of time to nurture children who are the treasure of society, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government invited applications for the nickname of “childcare leave,” and from 8,825 submissions, the name “Ikugyo” was chosen. As part of the campaign to support fathers taking child-rearing leave, we asked three senior fathers who have experience in child-rearing to tell us how they spent their time during child-rearing leave, what they reflected on, and their messages to pre-dads!

Childcare is harder than work…but it has brought me much closer to my children and wife!

Senior Dad (1)] Mr. T (40s) works at an advertising agency.

Family members: Mr. T, wife (company employee), eldest son
Childcare period: approximately one month from the third week after the birth of the first son.

Division of Marital Roles

As only my wife could breastfeed, I took an active role in changing diapers, making milk, cleaning and washing clothes, etc.
Other roles were not clearly assigned, but were handled by those who were available depending on the situation.

Preparation before childcare

Dad did his best to take care of various procedures, shopping, etc! Necessary procedures and goods vary depending on the local government, maternity hospital, etc., so it is important to check in advance.

[Claire] Confirmation.
Confirmation of lump-sum maternity allowance, childbirth allowance, childcare leave benefits, etc.
Confirmation of transportation to the maternity hospital

[Claire] I’ve prepared this.
Baby items such as baby clothes, diapers, diaper changing supplies (wipes, diaper trash cans), nursing supplies (baby bottles, breastfeeding pads), baby formula, bath supplies (baby bath, baby soap, gauze), car seats, baby carriers, etc.
Preparation of maternity items for mothers (pajamas, underwear, towels, toiletries, etc.)
Prepare documents necessary for hospitalization (maternity handbook, medical examination card, health insurance card, personal seal, etc.)

How to improve housekeeping and childcare skills

I gathered information on how to take care of the baby, food, hygiene care, accident prevention, etc., using the Internet and childcare books. Whenever I had an idea, I researched it and immediately put it into practice.
My wife did most of the laundry, dishes, and room cleaning before the baby was born, but instead of shying away because I had never done it before, I tried to improve my skills by learning how to do it from her and by watching her do it.

Reflections on Childcare

I was able to spend a lot of time with my children and share child-rearing experiences with my wife. Thanks to this, my child has become very attached to me. He is now 2 years old and is in the middle of his “no-pee phase,” but I rarely feel that he wants to be with his mom or dad. Raising a child is hard work, but the child is still cute. That is why I feel that I can overcome any difficulties.

Message to Pre-Dads

If you can, you should definitely do childcare work. However, I felt that childcare work is harder than work, so be prepared for that!
You can control your work at your own pace, but taking care of the baby is not something that can wait. There was no time to discuss and plan together, and everything proceeded at the baby’s pace. It was very hard work, but I felt much closer to my child and my wife as we spent invaluable time together.

There is “nothing” to lose by raising children!

Senior Dad #2] Mr. Y (in his 30s) works in the video industry.
Family members: Mr. Y, wife (company employee), eldest son
Childcare period: 1 week from the fourth week after the birth of the first son and about 7 weeks from the fourth month of his life.

Example of daily schedule

Good to keep in mind

I made a conscious effort to interact with children as much as possible. I actively played with the children, changed their diapers, and so on. Thanks to this, I was able to understand that children calm down at such and such times and that they cry for such and such reasons, and my understanding of children improved.

Reflections on Childcare

My wife and I were able to feel that we were raising our own child together, and I was able to acquire a minimum level of parenting skills and knowledge. My wife also told me that she felt safe because someone was always right there to talk to.

I was able to spend a lot of time with my children while I was in childcare, so even now, I don’t feel like “No Dad!” I don’t feel like “I don’t want to be a dad!

Message to Pre-Dads

I can assure you that there is absolutely nothing to lose by raising children, only benefits for you, your wife, and your children. You will never know the joy of having your child greet you with a smile when you return home until you experience it. It is too good a waste not to try childcare. Please don’t miss the chance, give it a try, and experience the benefits!

The burden on mothers after childbirth is more than you can imagine, so give it your utmost consideration. Dads should not overexert themselves either..!

Senior Dad 3] Mr. S (30s), public employee

Family members: Mr. S, wife (public employee), eldest daughter

Childcare period: 6 months from the 5th month of the eldest daughter’s life.

Example of daily schedule

Good thing I did this before I started my childcare business.

Since my wife and I often talked about what kind of childcare period we wanted and how we would divide up the roles before childcare, I was able to take the initiative in doing what I needed to do during childcare, such as changing diapers, putting the child to bed, doing laundry, and washing dishes.

We also utilized a smartphone app for recording growth and sharing photos from my wife’s pregnancy, allowing us to keep echo photos and other precious memories.

How to spend your time during childcare

Both parents and children would get bored if they stayed at home all the time, so we often played at a nearby childcare support facility. We did not have to go far to visit a large facility; the neighborhood was enough for us. Government facilities have the advantage that you can gather information about childcare services and local events and interact with other parents in the area.

We also used the time between housework and childcare to review insurance and household finances with an eye toward our family’s future.

What I should have done more of.

My wife was mentally and physically unstable immediately after the birth, and I wish I could have said to her, “Thank you so much for giving birth to our child,” or “Take it easy and rest,” etc.

Also, after returning to work, I had trouble getting my child to fall asleep (I was woken up many times during the night, and it was hard to go to work with a lack of sleep…), so I should have followed the advice on the Internet and in books more carefully to practice helping my child sleep on his own (so-called “sleep training”) during my childcare work. I wish I had followed the advice on the Internet and in books.

Reflections on Childcare

I am very glad that I was able to spend more time with my child, but I am also glad that I was able to build a foundation for raising my child for a long time to come, including improving my housework and childcare skills (including purchasing and using shortened housework and childcare products) with a view to balancing both after returning to work and reviewing my future family life and my career.

Message to Pre-Dads

I think the mental and physical burden on women during and immediately after childbirth is more than men can imagine, so I think it’s important for me to say, “That’s enough! I think it is important to care for the mother’s mental health and to take the initiative in doing whatever it is that she needs to do. I think it is important to care for the mother’s mental health and to take the initiative in doing whatever is necessary.

On the other hand, too much effort can also cause fatigue in fathers, so it is important to avoid overworking them by taking time out from childcare to rest and refresh themselves, or by consulting friends, parents, or others they can rely on when things get tough.

　How was it? For those who want to raise children but are worried that it will cause problems in the workplace, your step will lead to a big step forward in changing lives, workplaces, and the world. Childcare is “an important and precious task to raise children who will carry the future. Let’s create a society where it is commonplace to say “I’m going to raise my child! Let us all work together to realize a society in which it is commonplace to say, “I’m going to do childcare!