Dads cherish Sweden's parental leave

By Michael Martinez, CNN

Updated 0105 GMT (0905 HKT) April 6, 2015

Photographer Johan Bavman, with his son Viggo at 9 months. Bavman also photographed other new fathers who have made the most out of Sweden's extraordinary parental leave policy.
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Photographer Johan Bavman, with his son Viggo at 9 months. Bavman also photographed other new fathers who have made the most out of Sweden's extraordinary parental leave policy.
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Magnus Bjerhag, 37, rests with his new child. "I believe it's easier to be home with a child in this kind of neighborhood that we live in. Almost all the fathers are home with their children," he told Bavman. "Apart from that, I work in an industry and in a company that is quite young and supportive, with a lot of female managers."
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Magnus Bjerhag, 37, rests with his new child. "I believe it's easier to be home with a child in this kind of neighborhood that we live in. Almost all the fathers are home with their children," he told Bavman. "Apart from that, I work in an industry and in a company that is quite young and supportive, with a lot of female managers."
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Ola Larsson, 41, works around the house with his son Gustav.
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Ola Larsson, 41, works around the house with his son Gustav.
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Loui Kuhlau, 28, enjoys a drink with his son Elling.
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Loui Kuhlau, 28, enjoys a drink with his son Elling.
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Alfred Nerhagen, 38, balances Mira, 1, and Zack, 4.
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Alfred Nerhagen, 38, balances Mira, 1, and Zack, 4.
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Goran Sevelin, 27, holds his daughter Liv.
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Goran Sevelin, 27, holds his daughter Liv.
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Samad Kohigoltapeh, 32, spends quality time with his newborn twins Parisa and Leia.
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Samad Kohigoltapeh, 32, spends quality time with his newborn twins Parisa and Leia.
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Martin Gagner, 35, holds Valdemar, 1, as he paints the nails of 4-year-old Matilda.
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Martin Gagner, 35, holds Valdemar, 1, as he paints the nails of 4-year-old Matilda.
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Anton Cervin, 40, puts a helmet on Marit, 4, while 1-year-old Pia watches. "I think more about gender equality now that I have two little girls," he told Bavman.
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Anton Cervin, 40, puts a helmet on Marit, 4, while 1-year-old Pia watches. "I think more about gender equality now that I have two little girls," he told Bavman.
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John Wallin, 30, looks after Ines, 1, and Johannes, 3.
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John Wallin, 30, looks after Ines, 1, and Johannes, 3.
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Fredric Janson, 34, and his partner split their parental leave 50/50 after they had their son Ossian. "Since we took turns being on leave and working from the outset of our parenthood, parental leave never felt boring or unstimulating," he told Bavman. They spent the first four months at home together and then split up the rest of the leave, alternating time at home.
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Fredric Janson, 34, and his partner split their parental leave 50/50 after they had their son Ossian. "Since we took turns being on leave and working from the outset of our parenthood, parental leave never felt boring or unstimulating," he told Bavman. They spent the first four months at home together and then split up the rest of the leave, alternating time at home.
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Marcus Bergqvist, 33, shops with his sons Ted and Sigge.
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Marcus Bergqvist, 33, shops with his sons Ted and Sigge.
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Fredrik Karlsson, 35, kisses 11-month-old Harriet with his other daughter, 4-year-old Edith, behind him.
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Fredrik Karlsson, 35, kisses 11-month-old Harriet with his other daughter, 4-year-old Edith, behind him.
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Story highlights

  • Johan Bavman photographed fathers in Sweden, which has generous parental leave
  • Sweden's policies encourage fathers to take just as much leave as mothers

(CNN)When photographer Johan Bavman became a father for the first time, he took more than a passing wonder about how his native Sweden is said to be the most generous nation on Earth for parental leave.

He immersed himself in fatherhood -- twice over, you might say.
    He used his photography to document the real-life experience of other fathers taking full advantage of Sweden's extraordinary program, which allows mothers and fathers to take long, long leaves from their careers so they can care for their newborns.
      Get this: Sweden grants a total of 480 calendar days of parental leave, with 390 of them paid at 80% of income, with a maximum of 3,160 euros a month or $3,474.