I took a month with my first son.

I plan on taking about that with the son we're expecting in October.

There's a plethora of reasons why it's a smart move-

Bonding with your child in the most important period for that bond to form.
Reduced stress and work for mom.
It's easier to be sleep deprived and a zombie if you're not expected at work every morning.
Have time to set a routine and figure things out before going back to work.

Plus, it's become over abundant in the years since then that I don't get nearly as much time as I want with my son with a normal work schedule. I feel like I miss so much and that he grows so fast because the only real meaningful time with him is weekend days. That's made, in hindsight, that month with him in the beginning more valuable that I can possibly describe.

#4 | Posted by LampLighter

I think the two biggest, most important things are skin to skin contact while holding and feeding them and them simply hearing your voice. Their eyesight is pretty meh at that point, leaving touch and hearing and smell as the primary senses for them to perceive their world.

I made a point (and am making a point...) of talking to my wife's belly once they're developed enough to perceive sound. Maybe I was imagining things, but I swear my son responded to my voice the first time I held him after he was born. He stopped crying and struggling the moment I took him and started talking to him and started again when the nurse took him for measuring and final checkup before we moved to our room.