Survey of 500 Parents: 'Nighttime Milk Preparation' is the Biggest Burden; Nearly 80% Express Interest in Automatic Milk Makers

SUUTA Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yosuke Imafuku), which operates a rental platform, in collaboration with BetterDays Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Mio Okawa), developer and seller of baby care products such as the "milkmagic" automatic milk maker, has conducted and released the results of a "Childcare and Milk Survey" targeting 500 parents across Japan who are currently breastfeeding or have finished doing so.

While measures to combat the declining birthrate are a national priority, what burdens do parents actually face in their daily lives? This survey provides a multifaceted analysis of the overall burden of childcare, specific difficulties related to preparing baby formula, the impact of nighttime care on sleep and next-day performance, and attitudes toward returning to work.

The survey highlights a negative cycle deeply rooted in the daily lives of parents: "Nighttime milk preparation → Significant reduction in sleep time → Decreased performance in work and housework the next day."

Survey Results Summary

1. The biggest burden in childcare is "lack of personal time and sleep deprivation" (74.6%). Among specific childcare tasks, "milk preparation" ranks highly.
2. The "most difficult" aspect of milk preparation is "nighttime preparation" (24.8%), surpassing the frequent task of "cleaning and sterilization."
3. 51.2% of parents lose two or more hours of sleep per day, with 78.2% reporting an impact on their work or housework the following day.
4. Those who struggle with milk preparation are 25.3 percentage points more likely to lose two or more hours of sleep compared to those who do not.
5. 79.2% of respondents believe the "milkmagic" automatic milk maker would "make things easier," rising to 85% among those on maternity or childcare leave.

1. Childcare Burdens: "Lack of Time and Sleep" Stand Out

When asked about their burdens in childcare (multiple answers allowed), "lack of personal time and sleep deprivation" was the overwhelming top choice at 74.6% (373 people). This was followed by "single-parenting/high burden" (50.8%) and "balancing work, housework, and childcare" (47.2%), highlighting that parental burdens are concentrated on the depletion of time and physical energy.

This survey categorized general life struggles (time, psychological, and economic burdens) separately from specific, repetitive childcare tasks. Focusing on specific tasks, "responding to night crying" (40.6%), "putting the baby to sleep" (34.8%), and "responding to fussing" (31.2%) were followed by "milk preparation" at 26.6% (133 people), ranking 4th.

This figure means that approximately one in four respondents recognizes milk preparation as a daily burden. As further analysis shows, this burden is closely linked to reduced nighttime sleep, confirming its ripple effect on performance the following day.