It is a familiar scene for the stay-at-home dad, who is also the primary carer for his kids.

“It’s [been] life-changing, absolutely,” he said.

“Just learning how to be a dad, a hands-on dad.”

But it is not all fun and games.

An accountant by trade, Mr Woodward took seven months’ parental leave from the large firm he works at. So he decided to document his experience through his blog Suit Tie Stroller.

In it, he talks about fathers taking longer paternity leave, and how he believes it helps close the gender pay gap.

Experts agree with Mr Woodward and believe this disparity is the biggest sole reason for the 14 per cent gender pay gap, which is the equivalent of $445 million a week or $23 billion a year.

Yet, his advocacy has made him a hate figure to some on the internet.

“I’ve had a few online trolling experiences,” he said.

“I’ve been called an embarrassment to myself and to my firm. [At] first I got a bit upset and couldn’t understand the reaction.”

Woodward is in the minority of Australian fathers.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 5 per cent of Australian men are primary carers.

University research commissioned by the Government has found only a quarter take any paternity leave at all, even though all dads now qualify for two weeks’ leave at minimum wage paid for by the federal government.

For Woodward, the move allowed his wife to get back to work at a critical time in her career, and she was eventually promoted to senior management.

But, he said, the concept of men taking parental leave was often treated like a dirty secret.

“Another dad [told me his] human resources team actually said, ‘You’re welcome to take it but don’t tell anyone’,” he said.

“That was really disappointing to hear because it meant no-one knew why he suddenly exited the workplace.

“When he returned he wasn’t able to talk about it and celebrate [having] a kid.”

Mr Woodward does not just want an overhaul of government policy, he wants to see attitudes change too.

And this could start in a less conventional setting: the pub.

‘Tough love’ in the pub

A program called Beer and Bubs is teaching dads in 13 cities around Australia how to support their wives and be better dads.

As the amber flows at an inner-city Sydney pub talk turns not to banter or sports but baby capsules and parental leave.

And about a dozen dads to be are here for a beer and bubs talk to learn how to better support their pregnant partners.

“It’s a familiar environment for men,” childbirth educator and doula Virginia Maddock said.

“This is usually where they feel quite relaxed and they’ve got other guys to hang out with and open up to.”

As well as practical tips like making sure their hospital bags are packed with deodorant and a change of clothes, the goal is to be a better dad during a big life change.

Maddock does not sugar-coat the advice she hopes will see dads support their partners well into the baby’s life.

“This may be the one time you zip it and shut up because when she’s going through a contraction if you’re constantly chatting to her it’s going to take her out of her focus,” she said.

Among the dads-to-be is Killian Gavin from Sydney band Boy and Bear.

His first child is due in March.

He said Maddock’s tough love had given him new skills.

“I was a little nervous, but I’m feeling a bit more confident,” he said with a laugh.

Gavin is changing his touring schedule to be a more supportive partner.

“I travel for work as well and having to cancel a lot of travel just to make sure you’re around because, I don’t know, it feels important today,” he said.

“I think the role of a guy has changed a lot for the better and yeah, I think it’s a really important deal.”

-ABC