This report originally appeared in the May 2014 print issue of Kids Today

The number of stay-at-home dads in the United States totaled 214,000 in 2013, a 13% increase from the prior year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 2000, there has been a 130% increase in the number of stay-at-home dads. The largest hike occurred from 2003 to 2004, from 98,000 to 147,000, a 50% jump. Men are playing a much larger role in purchasing decisions, especially in those categories traditionally dominated by women shoppers. And, dads in particular are embracing technology to make everyday household purchases. Two-thirds of dads own a smartphone. That's slightly higher than the 61% of overall mobile subscribers who own a smartphone. Twenty-seven percent of dads own a tablet and 35% own both a smartphone and a tablet, according to comScore.

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