🇵🇭 Philippines
New dad: from the first plans to the first years
Appointments, feeding, nights and paperwork. Take it one stage at a time, together.
Your timeline
Birth to two weeks
Share feeding, changing, soothing and meals. Confirm follow-up appointments and the birth-registration deadline. Never shake a baby; if overwhelmed, put them safely down and take a short break.
Leave and family paperwork
Employment leave, birth registration and legal parenthood are separate matters. Sort them out before birth where possible, using your employer, the Local Civil Registrar and qualified legal advice. Do not assume a rule from another country—or another family's situation—applies to yours.
Confirm paternity-leave eligibility
RA8187 covers married male employees in public and private employment for the first four deliveries of their cohabiting lawful spouse, including miscarriage, with seven days at full pay. Private implementing rules specify seven working days. Ask HR about the applicable procedure and timing.
Discuss optional maternity allocation
RA11210 allows a mother to allocate up to seven maternity-leave days to the father regardless of marriage, subject to rules. It reduces her leave and is her choice. Confirm the required notices and coordination with the relevant employers.
Clarify scheduling and employment protection
Do not assume leave can be split or taken whenever you choose, or that there is a special automatic dismissal-protection period. Ask HR for the legal basis; seek DOLE, public-sector personnel or qualified labour-law advice if pressured or refused.
Check domestic birth registration
A birth in the Philippines should be registered with the Local Civil Registrar where it occurred within 30 days. Check whether the hospital submits the Certificate of Live Birth and verify the details and submission. A PSA-certified copy is a separate step.
Resolve parentage and surname questions
Outside marriage, the father's acknowledgment and the child's use of his surname are not automatic. Ask the Local Civil Registrar about required documents and a family lawyer about parental authority and support; acknowledgment alone should not be assumed to settle every legal issue.
Plan for overseas circumstances
For a birth abroad, a Report of Birth is normally made through the Philippine consulate within 12 months. Ask the consulate about your situation, including late reporting. Get qualified advice where employment, citizenship or parentage involves more than one country.
Health and emergency contacts
This site does not replace medical advice. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.