Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Charlotte Robinson: LISTEN: How Gay And Lesbian Couples Become…
New Turnaround Teacher 'Trying To Get It Right' In Tough School
Wake-Up Call: Moms Are Losing a Lot More Sleep Than Dads
Filed under: In The News, Sleep
Getting up with the baby all night might help you bond, but it won't help you get ahead in your career. Credit: Getty Images
Stop the freakin' presses, right? You probably already figured that out.
But what you might not have known is that researchers at the University of Michigan compiled some honest-to-goodness data on this phenomenon and found working mothers are two-and-a-half times more likely than working fathers to get out of bed to help others.
Men do get up. From time to time. But when they do, researchers found, they are usually snoozing away again within 30 minutes. Women stay up an average off 44 minutes per late-night interruption.
"Interrupted sleep is a burden borne disproportionately by women," sociologist Sarah Burgard, a researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, tells ScienceBlog.com. "And this burden may not only affect the health and well-being of women, but also contribute to continuing gender inequality in earnings and career advancement."
The study, which comes out in the next issue of the journal Social Forces, was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Aging and the Sloan Foundation.
Burgard and other researchers analyzed time diaries kept by some 20,000 working parents from 2003 to 2007 -- drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Time Use Survey.
The gender gap was the widest among parents in their 20s and 30s with young children.
Among working couples with newborns, 32 percent of women reported sleep interruptions compared with 11 percent of men.
Moms get more sleep as their children get older, but, still, even with children approaching the toddler years, 10 percent of working women said they didn't get to sleep through the night. Only 2 percent of men reported the same problem.
"What is really surprising is that gender differences in night-time care giving remain even after adjusting for the employment status, income and education levels of each parent," Burgard tells ScienceBlog. "Among parents of infants who are the sole breadwinner in a couple, for example, 28 percent of women who are the sole breadwinner report getting up at night to take care of their children, compared to just 4 percent of men who are the only earner in the couple."
Before any husbands are seriously injured, it should be noted that researchers found moms get more overall sleep than dads -- by 15 whole minutes. They go to bed earlier or get up later -- probably because they're pooped from getting up at night.
Not helpful? Sorry. Burgard isn't very cheery about the whole thing, either.
"Women face greater fragmentation and lower quality of sleep at a crucial stage in their careers," Burgard tells the website. "The prime childbearing years are also the time when earnings trajectories are being established, and career advancement opportunities could well be foregone if women reduce their paid work time or see their workplace performance affected because of exhaustion. As a result, sleep interruption may represent an under-recognized 'motherhood penalty' that influences life chances and well-being."
She has a solution.
"For parents of young children, the best approach might be discussions and negotiations about whose turn it is to get up with the baby tonight," she says.
Psst, that's also a major way to score hubby points, guys.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Helping Baby Sleep
Having trouble getting your baby to sleep? Follow these simple tips from TheBump.com to make naptime easier.
-
Establishing a Night Time Routine for Your Baby
Putting your baby down for the evening should be a relaxing time for both you and your baby. However there are times when your baby just might not settle down. In this case a night time routine can be very helpful.
-
Overcoming Baby Naptime Difficulties
Is Your baby having trouble with his nap schedule? Follow these tips from The Bump to help your baby get naptimes back on track.
-
Helpful Hints on Sleep for New Parents
DadLabs is proud to announce a new show to our lineup! Starring Stay At Home Dad Nathan West, follow Survivor Dad as he cuts a fresh path through the unchartered wilderness of Stay At Home fatherhood. In this episode, Survivor Dad offers helpful tips for those parents struggling with lack of sleep due to an infant. How long do newborns sleep? How many hours of lost sleep for moms and dads does a new baby account for? What happens to a parent when sleep deprivation occurs?
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 2)
11-18-2010 @ 10:31AM
Sydney said...try Http://bit.ly/GetWellStayHealthy with a new baby, everybody looses sleep, but it won't go on indefinitely. it just feels like it at 1st. hang in there.
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 9:02AM
Rob said...What a bunch of crap. When we brought our first son home my wife wouldn't get out of bed if the house was on fire. I went from 70 hours of sleep to 35. Not all men are jerks you know.
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 11:23PM
Teri Rosenbaum said...I agree with you...My husband is a gem and I am thankful for him. Because we breastfed, I was the night duty because it just made sense to both of us and my husband worked evenings. He took the 6 AM for me so I could sleep in longer...We worked as a team and I know I am one lucky lady! That was over 25 years ago...
11-20-2010 @ 9:23AM
fred said...So men have absolutely no input in the pregnancy and decision making about a baby in utero, but once it's born you want all of our time and money... Well isn't that convenient?....
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 2:04PM
trand1114 said...You couldn't have been anymore right, Fred. I fully agree with you.
11-20-2010 @ 12:55PM
laxauntsc said...Here is the deal even though men are stronger muscle wise they are the weaker sex they die younger they get hurt more they sleep more women go to work and then come home and do the so called wifey chores while the guy just parks his ass on the chouch when he comes home they dont do laundry or cooking or cleaning or homework or drive to sports practice or anything else they deam as womens work. it is a proven fact that men live longer if they are married and the reason that is because they have thier wives do everything they hate to do while married women die younger and single women are happier healthier and don't have the aggrivation of taking care of a man child I love being single I don't need someone to make me happy or am worried I will die alone since the guys die first I would die alone anyway right? So why bother with all their drama and having to answer to them who the hell are they anyway no man is the boss of me I come and go as I please do whatever I want with non of the bitching if I want to go out with a guy one night and then a diffrent one the next I can. I enjoy male company I just dont like the controll issues they all have about being the man...so what....ohhh you have a penis big deal I can get one of thoes at the sex toy store and it will be bigger and last longer......oh don't get me started....:)
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 3:34PM
Great said...Wow sounds like your from the 50's lol I wish that was the case today. I work 85 hours a week 6 days a week then I also run 2 small businesses I own and I clean, cook, laundry, grocery shop, yard work, fix cars, take care of the cats and dogs,picked up medicine and pay the bills. Want to know what my ex fiancee did? She worked 45 hours and shopped and wanted a kid. So your in lala land or you got a real lazy guy that you let be lazy. My brother who has kids does the same and gets up at night when the baby cries and changes most of the diapers. Todays women tend to be a lot lazier then yesterdays women
11-20-2010 @ 3:52PM
Totallyagree said...This is so funny because I feel the same exact way...It was like I was reading myself going off and venting. I am so over men and my husband is just completely miserable. It's his rules, what he says and I am the lazy one because he doesn't know what it takes to wake up with a baby that I breastfed for 18 months and I happen to Co-sleep with her because I breastfed for so long...He wont sleep with us because he snores so damn loud it keeps everyone awake...All he does is complains and comes home and watches tv or plays video games...While I can never do anything right...He rarely changes diapers, RAREly feeds our daughter...RARELY gets her dressed and has put her to sleep maybe 5 times in her whole 21 months. I drive an hour to her gym so she can socialize and then an hour back...He never wants to go out or do anything and we are suppose to be stuck here watching him sit on his ass...Seriously men are the biggest babies I've ever known, even my 21 month old is more independent than him. He doesn't want my opinion and acts like it's because I am a "Stupid" woman and I am so sick of it...This has been my picture of men my enitre 25 years of living...Fact is, everyone tells him I am completely out of his league physically and personality wise...I am starting to agree because 7 years with this ahole is driving me nuts! So ready to take my daughter and not have to deal with angry fits because he didn't get the dinner he wanted or I don't clean the way he likes...GET THE EFF OVER YOURSELF! So selfish! Ahhh okay I feel a little better.
11-20-2010 @ 9:46AM
Maureen said...Pretty clever article Tom. On the surface, you you're telling husbands that helping their wives with the kids in the middle of the night would be a "major way to score hubby points", like it's some sort of cute public service announcement. Really though, the point of the article is to say that because of some study, we're supposed to believe that women are somehow less efficient because they get a "lower quality of sleep at a crucial stage in their careers," and that their "career advancement opportunities could well be foregone" because they're staying up an extra 16 minutes when they get up at night with the kids. This article is clearly written as a ridiculous passive aggressive way to tell companies not to hire women with children because their work is affected by sleep depravation. Nothing in the study points to any research that shows how the so called disparity affects either gender's ability to think and react during their typical workday. Anyway, the whole point of the article is moot because of your own admission that "researchers found moms get more overall sleep than dads -- by 15 whole minutes. They go to bed earlier or get up later --" The fact that "working mothers are two-and-a-half times more likely than working fathers to get out of bed to help others." shows that they are conscientious, and forge ahead to do what has to get done no matter what time of day it is. These traits alone should help advance their career opportunities. Nice try though.
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 10:25AM
Tony said...I had to laugh at this one ( Mothers of young children don't get enough sleep ) If you women had any coomon sense you won;t have a baby or should I say a mistake. Women are program by nature to be a baby factory. You should of use common sense and not have one. But being stupid you had one or more. Well you made your mistake stay up at night and take care of it. Why should dad lose his sleep. I know a couple who got married. Before they got married both agree NO babies. They are rewarded now they can travel and not be bother with a brat. The money they would of waisted on a kid is better spent having fun enjoying life. They are the smart ones.
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 1:15PM
gt said...Tony, you're a horrible, dispicable person and I'm so glad that someone as horrible as you has decided not to breed. You've done the world a huge favor. And as for stupid, you have so many grammatical and spelling errors in your short post I lost count after 18. Your mother must be so proud.
11-22-2010 @ 8:31PM
Sense said...Tony, if your mother hadn't made a "mistake"...YOU wouldn't be here to make such stupid comments! Grow up.
11-20-2010 @ 10:38AM
laughin said...and this writer must be rip van winkle who just woke up from their long nap
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 10:52AM
Shannon said...The part that got me was "28 percent of women who are the sole breadwinner report getting up at night to take care of their children, compared to just 4 percent of men who are the only earner in the couple" - hello women - don't complaint then! When the baby cries, if you are the sole breadwinner, nudge that guy with your elbow and tell him to get crackin' then role over and catch some Z's! If you choose to disrupt your nights sleep, thats on you.
Reply
11-21-2010 @ 12:53AM
billy said...to Tony: "Common Sense" - you wouldn't be here shooting the breeze about a laxidasical life if someone (a "stupid" mother, you called her) hadn't labored to bring you into the world. Are you calling yourself "a mistake" or your own mother "stupid". You sound very bitter. I would venture to say that you had an abusive parent (I appologize if this is a touchy subject for you) and there's some healing that needs to take place. I'm a father and I want my son to know all the happiness I can provide in this otherwise tumultuous world. Life isn't about fun and games - it's about the priceless relationships we choose to build or disavow - ups and downs/challenges are a part of growing. Regardless of whether or not my wife and I planned our baby - he'd be no mistake - the billions of micro-miracles it takes to bring that baby from zygote through full term is mind blowing - write it off if you want. If you decide against having children for one reason or another - that's great - I won't judge you - to each his own - raggin' on someone else for their choices is wrong - and women are given the gift/the ability to "grow" a child in their womb (their not slaves) - only a part of the bonding experience which many parent/child relationships lack. The article itself provided nothing helpful: having a child should be a shared endeavor by both parents - yeah, for the first year or so mom will be lose more sleep because of 'feeding' - so, guys should pick up and help when they can (no matter the time) - it's your child to. A 'good' mom with a child, in my eyes, has thicker skin and is probably has more determination and gusto - in the way of a career, it that is their choice.
11-20-2010 @ 12:02PM
Tired Mom of 4 said...Seems this "survey" forgot to include all the single mom's out there working and raising children as their fathers walked off into the blue yonder. Sleep is the last item on my list. Maybe Ms. Sarah Burgard should go back to the drawing board and start over with a new more fair representation!
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 12:20PM
Josh said...What about all the single dads in the same boat? It works both ways.
11-20-2010 @ 12:18PM
Josh said...So wait a minute. Women stay up for 14 minutes longer than men do when they get up (44 minutes to 30 minutes,) but sleep 15 minutes more overall. So according to the actual averages and numbers, men lose 1 minute more sleep than women. Way to skew an article.
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 5:37PM
Wheelz said...It's not my fault you went and got yourself pregnant. Quiet down, I have to get up for work in a few hours.
JK
Reply
11-20-2010 @ 8:02PM
Judith said...She got HERSELF pregnant? Call the Church! Another miracle! Hey, I took biology, and I seem to remember that it takes TWO to tango. If any man doesn't want to have kids, then he had better make that clear to any woman they sleep with, as well as wear 4 or 5 condoms at the same time. As for you, do us all a favor and get a vasectomy...wait, maybe some of us women posting will give you one for free. Any takers ladies??