Parents have lost sleep worrying about their children reaching milestones, exacerbated by pressure from other parents and social media. A study of 1,000 mothers and fathers found 29 per cent worried about whether their baby had learnt to roll over at the “right time” while nearly a quarter were apprehensive about when they should start to walk.
Toilet training and sleeping through the night were other main milestones that parents were concerned their children were not meeting “on time”. Forty nine per cent admitted they had lost sleep over the rate of their child’s advancement.And while a quarter said they put the pressure on themselves, 34 per cent had their fears heightened by friends who have children, while 33 per cent worried more as a result of social media.
Nicole Hallak from Pampers, which commissioned the research ahead of the launch of the new Pampers Active Fit range, said: “It is clear from the research that parents are incredibly keen to give their children the best start in life.“It is important to remember that babies and children develop at different rates and not to let their own expectations, or those of others, cause undue stress.”The study also found that 45 per cent of parents worried their child did not develop at the rate they should do, with more than eight in 10 comparing their child to others the same age.
Another 24 per cent also felt judged by others due to their child’s enthusiastic behaviour in public as they started to become more active. However, 48 per cent of respondents wanted to ensure their child still developed at their own pace. It also emerged 55 per cent of parents feel they have benefited from being at home more during the pandemic as they have witnessed more of their child’s milestones than they would have done before.