BOSTON -- They may be small in numbers, but they are on the rise: stay-at-home dads. When it's time to re-enter the workforce, Mr. Moms can find restarting their careers is a big job, and a major lesson in role reversal.

Ira Montague has been primary caretaker for his daughter, Iley, since he and his wife adopted her from China in 2007. But when his wife was laid off, Ira set out to restart his career as an advertising executive. Three years later, he's still unemployed.

"When I first started actively looking, I put the fact that I was a stay at home dad, thinking it would be interpreted as a good experience. I got a lot of responses from recruiters who basically said it was the kiss of death, quite frankly."

Seven and a half percent of fathers in married couple families with children under 18 were home in 2009 while their wives worked. That's the highest on record, 2 percentage points up from 2008. When the decision is made to work again, some men find themselves strangers in their own field of expertise.

"I think there's a perception somehow that you've lost your edge," said Montague.

Outnumbered 5-1 by women re-entering the workforce, men now look for direction at companies largely designed for women. Newton based iRelaunch specializes in career re-entry conferences.

"Hundreds of people have attended and typically 5 to 10 percent are male," said Carol Fishman Cohen, of iRelaunch. "We do think there is a stigma for a dad who has chosen to take a career break to take care of children," said Cohen.

But government contracts manager David Hubbard says his 5 years at home caring for his son was an employment plus.

"They thought it was unique and interesting, and would make my resume stand out more than others," said Hubbard.

Dave is back at the same job he left five years ago. But most Mr. Moms are looking for work along side those who've been laid off. For those men, Hubbard offers some advice.

"Not burning bridges, try to stay in touch with your old employers, and volunteer work. Be able to list something that's a tangible thing you did, and not have people wondering about the gaps," he said.

Experts also say be willing, like many women do, to take temp work, or even change careers, And no matter what you did outside the workforce, present it as time well spent.

"The changes, the first step my son took, playgrounds on a beautiful fall day. I really enjoyed that," said Hubbard.

Need to get back into workforce? Click here for iRelaunch Web site