A POLL of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged one to 10 found 25 per cent admitted to really struggling with the high expectations that come with being a parent.
Many said social media is partly to blame, with 44 per cent admitting they can’t help but feel a need to appear perfect on these platforms.
Parents who feel this online pressure believe they are expected to always show a spotless home (51 per cent) and a seamless work-life balance (51 per cent).
Nutrition is another pinch point, with 49 per cent feeling the weight of needing to provide a well-balanced and nutrient-filled diet for their little ones, and 43 per cent feel pressured to always have healthy snacks to hand.
The research was commissioned by Arla, which has launched a grab-and-go version of its Big Milk enriched with vitamins D, A, and iron to support busy parents on the go.
Spokesperson Stuart Ibberson said: “Parents face a lot – both in real life and on their screens.
“From meal prep to playtime, the constant comparison can make people feel like they’re falling short.
“We wanted to offer something simple that fits into everyday life, not adds to the pressure.”
Despite the pressures felt, 59 per cent of all respondents argued there is no rule book for parenting and 71 per cent believe mums and dads need to be kinder to themselves.
While 41 per cent of parents said they feel ‘proud’ on a daily basis, 40 per cent feel tired or busy – and 38 per cent reported feeling stressed.
Mums feel more of an expectation to appear ‘perfect’ on socials, with 39 per cent feeling this way compared to just five per cent of dads.
The typical parent polled spends an average of two hours and four minutes on social platforms every day – equating to more than 45,000 minutes a year – giving them plenty of opportunities to see content that paints an unrealistic picture of what parenting should look like.
Meanwhile, 79 per cent would like to see more content on social media which is realistic and helps them feel more understood as a parent.
From openly showing parenting ‘fails’ (42 per cent) to honest depictions of the morning routine (42 per cent) and celebrating everyday small wins rather than only major milestones (39 per cent) – this is the type of content that mums and dads want to see more of.
Some of the most common struggles among parents included balancing work and family life (46 per cent) or finding time for self-care (40 per cent).
And three in ten (29 per cent) struggle to ensure their child has a varied, nutritious diet, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
Stuart Ibberson from Arla added: “The research shows that most parents are facing the same challenges, even if they go unspoken.
“What we’re hearing is that parents want practical solutions that fit into real life, not added pressure to get everything ‘just right’.
“It’s also important that we celebrate real parenting wins along the way too – those small, everyday victories that go unnoticed but make a big difference.”
TOP 10 ‘ONLINE’ PARENTING STRUGGLES:
1. Expected to have a clean, presentable home
2. Expected to show a perfect work-life balance
3. Expected to show I can ‘do it all’
4. Expected to have a perfectly behaved child
5. Expected to not show any struggles
6. Expected to spend enough time outdoors with my child
7. Expected to give my child all the right nutrients
8. Expected to be good at creative play (i.e. messy play)
9. Expected to cook aesthetically pleasing, healthy meals
10. Expected to show my children looking pristine
