Six in 10 parents feel under pressure to appear ‘perfect’ for social media
The parents polled said social media is partly to blame for their stress (Image: Getty)
A poll of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged one to 10 found 25% admitted that they struggle with the high expectations that come with being a parent. Many said social media is partly to blame, with over four in 10 admitting they can’t help but feel a need to appear perfect on these platforms.
Parents who feel pressure from online believe they are expected to have a spotless home (51%) and perfected the work-life balance (51%). They also struggle with nutrition, as half feel the weight of needing to provide a well-balanced and nutrient-filled diet for their children.
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Parents say they struggle with finding a good work-life balance (Image: Getty)
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.
Arla 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% of all respondents argued there is no rule book for parenting and 71% believe mums and dads need to be kinder to themselves.
Four in 10 parents also said they feel ‘proud’ on a daily basis, 40% feel tired or busy – and 38% reported feeling stressed.
Mums feel more of an expectation to appear ‘perfect’ on socials, with 39% feeling this way compared to just 5% 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. This gives them plenty of opportunities to see content that paints an unrealistic picture of what parenting should look like.
Parents say they struggle to give their children nutritious meals (Image: Getty)
Nearly eight in 10 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%) to honest depictions of the morning routine (42%) and celebrating everyday small wins rather than only major milestones (39%) – 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%) or finding time for self-care (40%). Three in ten (29%) 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
