NEW YORK — Almost nine in 10 parents admit they’ll “never” be done worrying about their child. According to a new survey of 2,000 parents of children under six, 89 percent agree that even when their child is grown and out of the house, they’ll never stop worrying about their well-being.
Two in five (43%) worry about their child every waking moment. The top concerns parents burden themselves with are their child’s emotional well-being (45%), health (43%), and physical safety (38%).
When it comes to parenting style choices, many are concerned about technology use and screen time (43%). This was followed by their finances (41%), being a role model (38%), and work-personal life balance (34%). Regardless of their own parental anxieties, it only took the average respondent five months to feel confident in their parenting abilities.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Safety 1st, research reveals that over the last six months, parents have lost close to two full days of sleep (45 hours) worrying about their child. Though 11 percent admit they’ve lost more than five full days — or over 120 hours.
Almost every parent (84%) had concerns about their baby before even bringing them home from the hospital. Those include how they are going to guide and teach them (48%), their own parenting abilities (47%), and even not having the right items (29%).
However, almost two-thirds (63%) of parents felt prepared to address them and spoke to other parents (56%) or to their doctor or health care provider (50%). Others practiced the tasks they were worried about ahead of time (41%) and baby-proofed their home (38%). One-third of parents did the basics when it comes to child-proofing, but 26 percent left no stone unturned and took care of their entire home.
“It’s clear that parents’ commitment to the safety and wellbeing of their children is boundless and ever-present,” says Director Brand Marketing at Safety 1st, Kristen Ahern, in a statement. “The finding that 89 percent of parents never stop worrying, even when their child is grown, underscores the profound depth of parental love. It’s important to find product solutions that help parents navigate these common anxieties so families can focus on the joyous moments of raising their young ones.”
Parents are most concerned about their child’s safety in public places such as stores or restaurants (57%), followed by playgrounds and parks (42%). Other locations include daycare or school (42%) and events like concerts or sporting events (26%).
How can parents keep kids safe?
The survey also asked each respondent to share some tips and tricks they utilize to keep their kids safe. One parent says, “I write my contact information on the tags in their clothes.” Another uses the tried and true method of hand-holding but with an added twist. “We both wear a friendship bracelet with a strap attaching them so they don’t get lost or kidnapped,” says the parent.
Of the 63 percent of parents who’ve traveled out of state or gone on vacation with their infant, 28 percent admit to packing too much. The top things to bring on a trip with your child are an infant car seat (37%), a full-sized stroller (32%), a thermometer (31%), a booster car seat (28%), and a compact-sized stroller (25%).
“Traveling with children, especially the young ones, can be a unique challenge — every parent wants to ensure their child’s comfort while maintaining safety,” adds Ahern. “The survey highlights that, from deciding what essentials to pack to keeping kids entertained during the journey, parents truly go the extra mile.”
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 parents of children ages 0-6 was commissioned by Safety 1st between August 28 and Sept. 4, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
