Men Can’t Sleep Through Babies’ Cries, Experts Debunk Common Parental Excuses

Dads Can’t Blame Biology for Skipping Night Duty, Study Reveals

It’s a common stereotype: mothers jolt awake at their baby’s slightest whimper, while fathers snooze through the chaos. But a new study debunks this myth, revealing men are just as likely as women to wake up to a crying infant. Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark found no significant difference in how fathers and mothers respond to nighttime noises—suggesting societal factors, not biology, drive unequal caregiving.

Key Findings: Sound Responses Nearly Identical

Scientists monitored 142 childless adults during sleep, playing recordings of婴儿哭声. Women showed a slight edge in waking to quiet noises (33-44 decibels, like whispers or rustling leaves), being 14% more responsive. However, as sounds reached real-cry volumes (~60-80 decibels), men and women woke at the same rate.

Caption: Men and women wake equally to loud baby cries, researchers found.

“Participants didn’t sleep through cries—gender wasn’t a factor,” said lead researcher Prof. Christine Parsons. While women report more disturbed sleep overall, likely due to hormonal or social pressures, the study confirms no innate “mom alarm” explains unequal nighttime duties.

The Care Gap Isn’t About Biology

A follow-up with 117 new parents revealed mothers handled 75% of nighttime care. Computer models showed that the minor sound-response differences couldn’t account for this imbalance. If biology alone dictated caregiving, responsibilities would split far more evenly.

Caption: Small sound-response gaps vanish at louder volumes, yet care tasks remain lopsided.

The team also dismissed a viral（but unscientific）survey claiming men wake more easily to flies than babies. “These myths stick because they confirm biases,” Parsons noted.

Why Mothers Still Take the Lead

Practical factors—like breastfeeding and parental leave policies—play a bigger role. OECD data shows mothers average 18.5 weeks of leave vs. fathers’ 2.3 weeks, giving women more nighttime practice and flexibility. Hormonal shifts post-pregnancy and societal expectations further cement the trend.

Caption: Chronic sleep loss harms health, highlighting the need for shared caregiving.

Conclusion

The study underscores that caregiving gaps stem from culture, not biology. “Men aren’t biologically tuned to sleep through cries,” said Parsons. Addressing systemic barriers—like unequal leave policies—could help redistribute nighttime duties and improve family well-being.

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