New Survey Highlights the Impact of Lost Sleep on Busy Parents

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—Aeroflow Sleep, a national durable medical equipment (DME) provider specializing in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) supplies, announced the results of a proprietary survey of 887 parents that revealed a hidden health crisis happening due to parental sleep deprivation, with more than a quarter of respondents showcasing signs of undiagnosed sleep apnea.

To better understand where parents are struggling to get proper sleep, Aeroflow Sleep conducted a third-party-administered survey in August 2026 that polled 887 U.S.-based parents, both female and male, with children 10 years of age or younger. The survey uncovered the severity of the sleep debt they’re experiencing, the impact on their personal lives, and some of the health symptoms occurring that may be pointing to larger health issues.

A closer look at what’s keeping parents up at night:

• Seventy-one percent of parents surveyed said parenting responsibilities keep them up at night, followed by 55% saying general stress and anxiety keep them awake.
• Seventy percent reported fewer than six hours of sleep a night (34.6% get 4 to 5 hours, 35% get 5 to 6 hours), which is below the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s recommendation.
• Eighty-eight percent of parents said their children wake them up at least once a night, a third are woken up twice at night and over 6% are up more than four times.
• When it comes to evening routines, doom-scrolling social media at night affected 60%, while 57% stream television shows into the late evening hours and 53% cited ongoing caregiving duties.

The survey uncovered symptoms of insomnia, including 70% of parents noting they have difficulty falling asleep, 66% waking up still feeling tired, 58% experiencing restlessness and 55% waking frequently during the night.

Survey participants also noted symptoms often associated with potentially undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, with 37% experiencing snoring and 25% waking with shortness of breath and nearly 9.5% reporting partner-observed breathing pauses.

“The symptoms noted by survey participants raise concerns that some parents may be dealing with more than just a busy household schedule. There may be undiagnosed sleep disorders, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, that are being overlooked because parents assume exhaustion is simply part of parenting,” said Christopher Allen, sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep, board-certified sleep medicine physician and pediatric neurologist. “Speaking to your healthcare provider regarding sleep quality is critical. Realistic sleep strategies do exist for parents and take into account the realities of family life.”

The report also highlighted the direct impact of sleep debt on parents’ personal lives:

• 63% of parents said a lack of sleep has negatively impacted their relationship with their spouse or partner.
• Due to lack of sleep, parents shared that their self-care and attention to exercise (79%) had been directly impacted, along with their professional career aspirations (50%).
• Sixty seven percent of respondents reported daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating, 61% had brain fog, 52% experienced mood changes (apathy/irritability), and roughly 46% had muscle soreness and memory problems.
• Almost 60% of parents haven’t had a healthcare professional inquire about their sleep patterns, and 86% noted they want more resources from their healthcare provider on sleep resources.
• “Parents are not simply tired from a lack of sleep or from interrupted sleep,” said Carleara Weiss, sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep. “The lack of sleep has resulted in real consequences on their relationships, mood, cognitive function, physical recovery, professional growth and overall wellness. To close the gap, access to sleep care needs to be broadened and included in every visit with healthcare providers.”

For more details on the survey findings and to access educational resources, click here.