Being a stay at home Dad is a more difficult job than being a mechanic, one man who has done both has revealed. 

During his oldest two children’s early years, David Hitchcock worked long hours as a mechanic to pay the bills. 

So when his new partner announced she was pregnant, he knew he wanted to spend as much time as he could with his third child.

He handed in his notice and is now baby Lily’s primary carer. 

“It’s just longer hours, I guess,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“50 hours at work doesn’t compare to the constant being at home non-stop.” 

Mr Hitchcock described his career change as a “welcome opportunity” but admitting looking after his daughter full-time has been “quite the challenge”. 

“You spend all the time looking after yourself as an adult and then to suddenly have someone else there all the time is a challenge,” he said. 

Mr Hitchock added that his two older children were “raised very well” but he is enjoying the fact that he is spending more time with his youngest daughter.  

“It’s just nice to have the opportunity to do all the hands on stuff,” he said. 

“Go to the doctor’s, take her out during the day and not be tired from work. 

“To have the opportunity to do all the going to parties and stuff like that.” 

A baby with her father and a pet rabbit. Picture by: Alamy.com 

Reaction to his change in career has varied from positive to sceptical. 

“There’s definitely a pause when someone says, ‘What do you do?’ and I say, ‘I’m a stay at home Dad,’” he said. 

“There’s always an awkward pause and they digest it and either say, ‘Well, that’s really good’ or, ‘What your real job?’”

Despite this, Mr Hitchcock said “most people” understand that being a stay at home Dad is a serious job. 

“If you’re not broad minded enough to take it on board, I think that’s more your own problem than mine,” he said. 

According to the CSO, there were 272,318 stay at home parents in Ireland in 2022 - 90% of whom were women.

Main image: Split of a baby and a mechanic. Picture by: Alamy.com