Myth Debunked: Men Do Not Sleep Through Baby Cries as Previously Thought

A recent study conducted by Aarhus University challenges the common belief that women are inherently more responsive to a crying baby than men. Published in the journal Emotion, the research indicates that the differences between men’s and women’s reactions to infant crying are minimal, despite mothers typically providing three times more nighttime care than fathers.

The study involved two separate experiments. The first included 142 adults without children, revealing that women were only marginally more sensitive to very faint sounds, such as whisper-level noises. Contrary to media stereotypes, male participants did not sleep through baby crying; instead, there was significant variability in how both sexes responded to sounds during sleep, with considerable overlap. Specifically, women were approximately 14% more likely to wake up in response to very quiet sounds, whether a baby crying or a standard alarm, but no notable difference emerged at higher volumes.

The second part of the research observed 117 first-time Danish parents who recorded their nighttime caregiving over a week. Results showed that mothers were three times more likely to handle infant care during the night. The researchers emphasized that this substantial caregiving gap could not be explained solely by slight differences in sound sensitivity, suggesting social and behavioral factors play a significant role.

The team highlights social influences, such as the fact that mothers typically take longer or more extensive parental leave—maternity leave—before fathers do. This early exposure and experience in soothing infants contribute to caregiving differences. Additionally, during breastfeeding, mothers directly respond to the baby's needs, making it understandable for fathers to sleep through nighttime awakenings.

This research contributes to ongoing discussions about gender roles in parenting. Recent policy changes in Denmark, which extended paternity leave from two to eleven weeks, aim to promote equal sharing of childcare responsibilities. The authors hope future studies will explore how hormonal changes and sleep patterns evolve for both parents as they adapt to parenthood.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-myth-men-dont-baby-cries.html