Originating Article: https://www.parents.com/2025-cost-of-care-report-8779080
Briefing Document: Care.com "Cost of Care" Report - 2025
Date: October 26, 2023
Subject: Analysis of the Care.com "Cost of Care" Report and its implications for parental mental health and well-being
Executive Summary:
The 2025 Care.com "Cost of Care" report reveals a significant crisis in parental well-being, highlighting that the burden of caregiving for children, aging parents, and pets extends far beyond financial costs, deeply impacting mental and emotional health. The study found that a large majority of parents are losing sleep, experiencing emotional distress, and even contemplating self-harm due to caregiving stress. This report emphasizes a need for systemic change, increased support for parents, and a re-evaluation of societal structures to better accommodate caregiving demands.
Key Findings & Themes:
- Mental and Emotional Toll of Caregiving is Severe:
- High Rates of Distress: 90% of parents surveyed report losing sleep due to caregiving stress. Other distressing symptoms include crying (80% overall, 90% of moms), feelings of dread (75%), and health issues (71%). A particularly alarming finding is that 29% of parents have considered suicide or self-harm.
- "Invisible Force": The report emphasizes that the mental toll is an "invisible force" of caregiving, often overlooked compared to the visible financial costs. As Sean Lacey, general manager of childcare for Care.com says, “While the cost of care is highly visible and quantifiable—rising expenses, mounting debt, and swindling savings—this mental toll is the invisible force of caregiving.”
- Public Health Issue: Psychologist Emily Guarnotta views the findings as a "public health issue," highlighting the need for greater support for parents, which echoes the sentiment of former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
- Significant Financial Strain:
- High Costs: The survey revealed that the average parent spends almost half (40%) of their household income on caregiving, with 22% going to childcare. They pay at least $9,600 on childcare costs annually (57% of parents) or $14,400 on total care costs.
- Financial Sacrifices: To manage costs, parents are making significant sacrifices such as dipping into savings (33%), delaying major purchases (32%), taking on multiple jobs (24%), and going into debt (20%).
- Supply and Demand Imbalance: Lacey attributes the high cost of care to "a fundamental supply and demand issue—there simply aren’t enough caregivers to meet families’ needs, driving up prices across the board.”
- "Patchwork" Caregiving Approach:
- Fragmented System: Parents are forced to employ a “patchwork approach,” relying on various resources such as daycare, babysitters, and relatives, which creates additional stress.
- Lack of Stability: This patchwork approach is not stable, with 31% of parents reporting scheduling disruptions and 26% budget changes forcing them to constantly find new solutions.
- Insufficient Support: Even with these efforts, 48% of parents report they still don't have enough help. Long waitlists for daycares (55% of parents reporting waits of four months or longer) further exacerbate this issue.
- Time and Emotional Deprivation:
- Limited "Me Time": Parents have an average of three hours per day to themselves (two hours for moms), and many parents struggle to fully rest during this time.
- Missed Life Events: Caregiving challenges cause parents to miss an average of 34 important life commitments annually, including travel, birthdays, weddings, and holidays. They also&
