SYDNEY, September 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Stay at home mothers lift the equivalent of nearly one tonne every day caring for their babies, new analysis by Million Dollar Woman has found.
Typically a nine month old baby, weighing 10 kgs (Note 1), is picked up and put down about 90 times a day -- equating to 900 kilograms.
"When you factor in up to five feeds a day, two naps, a night time sleep and lifting your child for playtime and around the house, the weight really adds up," Million Dollar Woman CEO Lynette Argent said.
"We all know parents with young children are often tired, and we put it down to lack of sleep, but perhaps it is also the solid weights workout they get on a daily basis.
"Who would have thought stay at home parents lift the equivalent of one tonne, or a baby elephant, every day or so."
Table 1: Weight lifted every day (Note 2)
Pick up | Put down | Total | 10 kg baby | ||
Naps | 4-5 | 4-5 | 10 | 100 kgs | |
Feeding | 5 | 5 | 10 | 100 kgs | |
All other times | 30-40 | 30-40 | 70 | 700 kgs | |
Total per day | 45 | 45 | 90 | 900 kgs | |
The analysis helps explain why, according to Newspoll research, stay at home Australians spend less than half the amount of money on health & fitness as full-time workers.
"Full-time workers spend 161 per cent more on health and fitness every year than stay at home Australians," Ms Argent said.
"We all know that full-time mums with young children have tremendous demands on their time, which may prevent them going to the gym or working out.
"On average, stay at home Australians spend $148 a year on health & wellness, compared to $386 for full-time workers.
"Full time workers also outspend stay-at-home Australians on entertainment, clothing, gifts and gift giving, but the gap is most marked in health & fitness."
Table 2: Full-time workers vs stay at home Australians
Full time worker | Stay at home | % diff | ||
Entertainment | $1,136 | $641 | 77% | |
Clothing | $639 | $342 | 87% | |
Health & wellness | $386 | $148 | 161% | |
Gifts | $417 | $261 | 60% | |
Hair & beauty | $377 | $238 | 58% | |
Total | $2,955 | $1,630 | 81% | |
Ms Argent said it was crucial for stay at home parents to value the work they do and protect themselves against injury.
"Our research shows that approximately 1.7 million Australian women are hurt so badly every six months they are unable to perform essential housework," she said.
"If you have small children, who is going to lift that baby tonne if you injure your back?"
Million Dollar Woman's Day to Day Insurance Cover offers up to $900 a week to pay someone to do your cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping and child care if you are injured or fall ill.
Notes:
(1) According to Tresillian Family Care Centres, Australia's largest child and family health organisation providing expert parenting advice to families during the early years, this baby is between the 90th and 97th percentiles.
(2) According to Tresillian Family Care Centres - babies generally have two naps and one main sleep per day and may need to be resettled at least once, have around three meals and two snacks per day and at other times (approximately 10 hours) including playtime may need to be picked up and put down about 30 to 40 times.
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