The Hidden Cost of Sleep Deprivation: What Employers Need to Know About New Parents

In the insightful conversation between Milk Stork founder Kate Torgersen and renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, the two dove into the unspoken struggles of new parents and how both employers and society can step up to provide much-needed support. Dr. Karp, creator of the SNOO Smart Sleeper and co-founder of Happiest Baby, shared groundbreaking insights into the realities of sleep deprivation, breastfeeding challenges, and the cascading effects these struggles have on working parents.

The Untold Toll of Sleep Deprivation

“Parenting today is heroic, but unnecessarily hard,” Dr. Karp emphasized. Modern parents, especially moms, are taking on the role of raising children without the support systems that past generations had. The nuclear family, where parents manage without the help of extended family, is a relatively recent development. It's also leading to significant stress and burnout.

Dr. Karp drew an eye-opening comparison: “We train special forces with sleep deprivation to build resilience, and parents endure the same without support.” This level of exhaustion not only strains relationships but can also put parents’ physical and mental health at risk. One stark example came from Kate herself, who recalled the crushing fatigue she faced while raising her twins, spending countless nights searching for any solution to get her babies to sleep.

Sleep deprivation doesn’t just impact parents’ personal lives. It affects their ability to function in the workplace. “Exhaustion can lead to serious consequences, including mistakes at work or even accidents,” Dr. Karp noted, recounting the story of a father who, after returning from paternity leave, got into a car accident because of sheer fatigue.

Why Employers Must Take Notice—and Take Action

One of the most critical insights from the conversation was the growing recognition among employers that supporting new parents isn’t just a moral responsibility—it’s good business. As Dr. Karp pointed out, “Employers are starting to realize that supporting families isn’t just nice—it’s smart business.” The costs of not providing adequate support are steep. According to a McKinsey study, 34% of new mothers leave the workforce for at least a year, and many don’t return to the same job. This brain drain can result in significant loss of talent and institutional knowledge.

Kate highlighted how these pressures especially affect working parents who are sleep-deprived and struggling with breastfeeding challenges. “Supporting parents with services like breast milk shipping and sleep solutions can reduce absenteeism, boost productivity, and improve retention,” she explained. Milk Stork’s breast milk shipping service, for instance, allows parents to take work trips while ensuring their babies continue to receive breast milk—a critical benefit for parents trying to balance their careers and the health of their children.

The Business Case for Parental Support

Employers who invest in parental benefits are not only helping families but also creating stronger, more resilient companies. Dr. Karp noted that companies offering services like the SNOO to their employees have seen tangible benefits. “Tens of thousands of parents are now receiving SNOOs through their employers,” he said, citing how the bassinet helps parents get more sleep, allowing them to be more productive and engaged at work. The SNOO, which helps babies sleep longer and safer, has caught the attention of both large corporations and governmental agencies like the U.S. military, with many now providing it as part of their employee wellness programs.

But as Kate pointed out, it’s not just about sleep. “Breastfeeding challenges, lack of sleep, and stress are all interconnected,” she said. “If one part of that cycle is disrupted, the others follow, leading to burnout.” Employers who recognize these connections are starting to offer a range of benefits, from breast milk shipping and virtual lactation support to mental health resources—all aimed at creating a more comprehensive support system for working parents.

Moving Toward a New Standard of Care

Both Kate and Dr. Karp see a future where employers offer a full ecosystem of support for working parents. “This isn’t just about making life easier for parents—it’s about building a stronger workforce and a stronger company,” Dr. Karp said. With parents now having children later in life, they bring years of experience and knowledge to their jobs, making it all the more important for companies to retain them.

What’s particularly encouraging is that more employers are beginning to see the importance of these investments. From Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, organizations are realizing that supporting new parents leads to higher retention rates, improved productivity, and reduced healthcare costs.

Dr. Karp summed it up best: “Love your parents, and they’ll love you back.” Whether through providing a SNOO, offering breast milk shipping services like Milk Stork, or simply acknowledging the challenges parents face, companies that invest in parental support are investing in their own success.

Shaping the Future of Parental Support

As employers continue to expand their parental benefits, the conversation is shifting from individual accommodations to a broader understanding of what parents need to thrive. “It’s not about any one solution—it’s about creating an ecosystem of support,” Kate said. Employers are starting to recognize that lack of sleep, breastfeeding stress, and the mental load of parenting are all intertwined, and addressing these issues holistically is the key to helping working parents succeed both at home and in the workplace.

The conversation between Dr. Karp and Kate offers a glimpse into the future of parental support, where employers play an active role in nurturing the next generation by supporting the parents who are raising them. With companies like Milk Stork and Happiest Baby leading the way, the path forward is clear: Supporting parents is not just a benefit, it’s a business imperative.

A recording of the conversation is available here.