Surrounded by a mountain of paperwork Lydia Higgins admits she is slightly jealous of her partner Paul Browning.

Because while Lydia is an award-winning businesswoman, Paul has ditched his job as a car salesman and is now a full-time dad to their 10-week-old daughter.

“I didn’t take maternity leave and so had Lola-Belle on the Friday and was back at work on the Monday,” says Lydia, aged 26, who owns Smarty Pants Day Nursery in Tipton.

“We had decided that Paul should stay at home with Lola-Belle as I’m needed at the nursery.

“I would like to stay at home but at least I get to see her in the evenings and at weekends.”

Research shows that two-thirds of mothers now return to work after having a baby, an increase of 50 per cent since 1988.

According to the Policy Studies Institute a quarter of fathers also change their working patterns after the birth of their baby, often by reducing their hours.

Lydia says: “I don’t feel bad about leaving Lola-Belle with her dad, and it means they get to have a strong bond.

“There are people like our grandparents that would say they didn’t do that in their day, but times are changing.

“A lot of people that talk to us are shocked that Paul stays at home but once he says he loves it the men start to admit that they wouldn’t mind doing it too.”

Smarty Pants nursery, which is in Horseley Heath, Tipton, opened in September and, as well as receiving a glowing Ofsted report, Lydia has won Sandwell’s Childcare Business Management Award 2008.

“Staff, parents and people from Sandwell Early Years nominated me for the award,” says Lydia.

“One of the reasons they voted for me was that I was pregnant when the nursery opened and didn’t take a day off work – even when the baby was born.

“Paul has been very supportive and his decision to stay at home with Lola-Belle has allowed me to give our business a successful start.

“He loves being a stay-at-home dad and I’m sure he will encourage me to have more children.”

Paul, aged 35, who lives with Lydia in Wades Close, Tipton, says he is enjoying spending time with Lola-Belle.

“I’m making the most of the change as I have been selling cars for the last seven years and so this is totally different,” he says. “I fancied a break from the motor trade but I can’t say I was looking forward to changing nappies instead.

“A lot of men think their wives have it easy, sitting at home with the baby, but I now know how much work it is.

“Even when I’m having a shower I will put Lola-Belle in her baby chair and have her in the bathroom with me so I can keep an eye on her.

“I think my caring side has really come out since staying at home with her.

“I have got a nine-year-old son by a former partner and missed out on this experience as his mum took maternity leave.” Lydia says the nursery is now practically full and they are having to turn people away.

“We have a long waiting list of people who want to bring their children to the nursery,” she says.

“I would like to have another nursery and Paul helps a lot doing handyman jobs.

“When Lola-Belle is older she will come and join me in the nursery, but for now Paul is doing a good job.” Paul says Lola-Belle is in a good routine and sleeps between 9pm and 4am and has feeds every three-and-a-half hours.

“I have got to know Lola-Belle much better and quicker than if I was working,” says Paul.

“She was five weeks premature when she was born and only weighed 5lb – she was tiny and rather than being scared I felt like a protective dad.

“I hope she is going to become a daddy’s girl as Lydia says Lola-Belle looks for me when she wants something, and perks up when she hears my name.

“She likes to be with her dad – and that is just fine with me.”