Paternity leave in Oslo

Paternity leave is not maternity leave with a new name. Your child is typically eight to fifteen months old when you take over: awake, mobile and curious, past the calmest newborn months. That changes what is fun, and it changes where the others on leave actually are.

If you want to meet other dads, a few places have remarkably good odds. The DNT pram walks often have plenty of dads along, and the bar is zero: show up with a pram or carrier and walk an hour or three. Lille Lab is the other gathering spot, and it makes sense: babies on paternity leave are just old enough for the exploratory play labs, and it is an activity many dads get hooked on themselves.

Climbing has taken paternity leave seriously, and it is the one activity where somebody has built something for dads specifically. Oslo klatresenter at Skullerud runs postnatal climbing in the late morning and a dedicated weekly dads' meetup, with playpens, changing tables and a café on site. For something less committing, DNT keeps the bouldering room at Friluftshuset Sørenga open to parents on leave one day a week, where you can come and go as you please and pay per visit. Days and times are on the cards below and with the organiser, since they shift with the seasons.

The rest of the toolbox is the same as for any leave, and it is a good one in this city: open kindergartens you can drop into without signing up, morning baby cinema, and cafés with room for the pram. Our guides to baby life in Oslo and cafés for your parental-leave group apply just as much to you.

Oslo Klatresenter: postnatal climbing and dads' meetup · Klatreverket: postnatal climbing with childcare · Cafés for your parental-leave group

DNT trilleturer

Trening

Marka

Barnas Turlag Oslo organizes stroller walks every Wednesday all year round, where parents on parental leave meet up for exercise and social company - one of the activities where you often meet fathers on paternity leave. The walks head to forest cabins or cafés with food and changing facilities, at a pace everyone can manage. The group often splits into a faster and slower pack, and baby carriers can be used on all the walks. In winter, the routes stick to ploughed roads. DNT also arranges stroller walks in Bærum, Asker, Nittedal, Nordre Follo and Lørenskog - see DNT's website for an overview of walks in these areas.

Oslo Mikrolekeri

Lekeland

Pilestredet (bakgården), Bygning I, 0164 Oslo

Cosy little indoor play room at Tullinløkka (Pilestredet 27) in the city centre, for children aged 0-6 with dedicated zones for the youngest, climbing tubes, slides, a ball room and books. Self-service: you book a slot and let yourself in with the Mikrolekeriet app. Warm floors inside and good stroller space outside - a great refuge on rainy days.

Lille Lab, Sentrum

Lekeland

Nedre Slottsgate 8, 0157 Oslo

Modern indoor play area for children aged 0-6 with pretend-play zones, climbing areas, a reading corner, and a café. Also hosts new-parent meetups, courses, and birthday parties.

Lille Lab, Hasle

Lekeland

Bøkkerveien 4, 0579 Oslo

The largest Lille Lab location, with plenty of room to play, a café, events and birthday celebrations for children aged 0-6. Soft play zones and a dedicated area for the very youngest make it a safe indoor option year round.

Lille Lab, Torshov

Lekeland

Marcus Thranes gate 4B, 0473 Oslo

A cosy indoor play room at Torshov, one of four Lille Lab branches in Oslo, focused on imaginative play for children aged 0-6. Role play, climbing areas and a reading nook, with a café on site, and they also host courses and birthday parties.

Lille Lab, Tøyen

Lekeland

Gruegata 23A, 0652 Oslo

Specially designed for the very youngest children (0-2), with calm play areas and sensory play in a safe setting. Smaller and quieter than the Hasle location. Older siblings cannot come along. A good place to meet other parents on leave.

Barseltreff hos SmåSpor

Barselstreff

Nordre gate 15, 0551 Oslo

A postpartum meetup run by SmåSpor in Grünerløkka - a social gathering for parents on parental leave with a baby, where you can share experiences, interests and make new acquaintances over a cup of coffee. The venue has a dedicated play area for the youngest, a changing table, a nursing corner and stroller parking. Some meetups are held exclusively for fathers on paternity leave. Contact Ida at oslo@smaspor.no for sign-up and current dates.

Barselklatring og pappatreff på Oslo klatresenter

Trening

Olaf Helsets vei 5, 0694 Oslo

Oslo climbing centre at Skullerud runs parental leave climbing every Wednesday 11 to 13, with the music off and few other visitors, and a dad meetup on Thursdays 11 to 13 where new fathers climb and meet others climbing with kids. The centre has playpens, a changing table and a café with high chairs, two minutes from the metro.

Barselbuldring på Friluftshuset Sørenga

Trening

Sørengkaia 124, 0194 Oslo

Every Monday 12 to 15, DNT keeps the bouldering room at Friluftshuset open exclusively for parents on leave, with the baby in a pram outside or on the mat. Bouldering is rope-free climbing on low walls, and you can come and go as you like. Costs 70 kroner for DNT members and 80 for others, climbing shoes can be rented. Closed during school holidays.