Mothers report high burnout levels, call for flexible work

More than nine in 10 mothers say they’re burned out, while 70% get fewer than five hours of broken sleep a night. The Motherhood Index 2026 says burnout language in online motherhood conversations has risen 107% the past year on Peanut, a large social networking site for mothers, which co-authored the report with baby gear manufacturer Nuna. Only 61% describe their wellbeing as “good.” Mothers identified flexible work as particularly important. “The career penalty of motherhood is no myth,” Peanut President Michelle Battersby says. “Flexible work isn’t a perk, it’s the structural change mothers say would most transform their lives ahead of health care investment, policy reform and technology. That’s worth listening to.”