Majority of moms 'facing depression and exhaustion during "most stressful year ever" because of Covid'

SEVEN in 10 moms surveyed said 2020 was the most stressful year they have ever experienced, according to new research.

Many moms struggled to balance the increased demands of childcare with isolation, work, financial stress and more — and the survey revealed 68 percent found this past year more stressful than any other.

This poll of 2,022 moms of babies and children under two years of age — 55 percent who are on The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — found 61 percent are concerned about their current financial situation.

Sixty-two percent of moms surveyed said they lost sleep as a result of their financial worries.

This added up to an average of five sleepless nights in a single month — or a full workweek of lost sleep because of money woes. 

The study, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Store Brand Infant Formula, examined the incredible financial and emotional impact the pandemic has had on moms.

It revealed top emotions felt this past year included stress, exhaustion, depression, anxiety and isolation.

Unfortunately, nearly half (47 percent) of respondents said they didn’t have enough money saved for an emergency — which led to an increase in financial stress. 

Further, 64 percent of moms had to sacrifice a lot because of financial reasons, with nearly two in three (65 percent) cutting costs just to feed their family. 

Three in 10 moms said the ability to afford enough food for the family was causing the most financial stress, and 30 percent revealed they have skipped meals so their children could eat.

Another 44 percent had food that simply didn’t last long enough without having enough money to get more. 

“You don’t have to cut back on nutrition or jeopardize your family’s well-being to make ends meet; instead, families should focus on making wise choices to stretch their dollars further and safely,” said financial expert and founder of Clever Girl Finance, Bola Sokunbi.

“Switching from name brands to store brands is a great way to save money, especially when it comes to baby.”

With all the emotional and financial stress, moms found themselves turning to a patchwork of resources for help, such as the local food bank or charity, WIC, family members, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or a pediatrician/health care professional.

In fact, 40 percent of moms surveyed applied for WIC or SNAP to help support their family within the last year.

Unfortunately, these benefits may not be enough. 

A staggering 88 percent of moms enrolled in WIC reported they run out of infant formula before the end of the month. 

Not surprisingly, more than half of moms (54 percent) agreed they had to make difficult decisions just to feed their baby in 2020.

To save money, 52 percent of moms surveyed said they have used more water than required by the instructions to make infant formula last longer.

Formula over-dilution is dangerous because it dilutes critical nutrients in formula at a time of rapid growth. 

“Caregivers experiencing food insecurity are often met with unimaginably tough decisions when it comes to feeding their family,” said Perrigo Nutrition Marketing Director Jeremy Jones. 

“With store brands, there’s no need for parents to take unnecessary risks such as diluting infant formula to save money.”

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