The Care Crisis: Insights from Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report

The survey, conducted with 3,000 parents and now in its 13th year, exposes the toll caregiving demands are taking on familial well-being. Key findings indicate that a staggering 90% of parents report lost sleep due to caregiving challenges, while 89% express feelings of burnout. Additionally, 88% have made sacrifices to personal life goals, and 84% have experienced burnout in their professional lives.

Brad Wilson, CEO of Care.com, emphasizes the urgent need for systemic changes, stating, “Parents are being pushed well beyond their limits by the demands of caregiving.” He warns that if this trend continues, many parents may be forced to reduce their work commitments, exacerbating both financial and emotional stress.

The report reveals that parents juggle an average of four different child care arrangements, including babysitters, daycares, and family members. Beyond child care, many parents also manage additional care responsibilities for pets (57%), housekeeping (46%), and senior care (37%). Despite these efforts, 45% of parents still feel they lack adequate support.

Finding suitable care has become a time-consuming endeavor, with 52% of parents searching for new caregiving solutions for two months or longer. On average, parents utilize nearly three different apps or websites to locate caregivers, underscoring the fragmented nature of the current care ecosystem.

The emotional toll on parents is significant. The report indicates that 80% of parents devote nearly all their waking hours to others, while 67% feel guilty for taking time for themselves. As a result, nearly 90% have missed important life events, including time with friends (51%) and hobbies (49%), due to caregiving responsibilities. Furthermore, 48% of parents with partners have reported feelings of resentment toward their spouses related to care pressures.

As care demands continue to rise, parents’ professional ambitions are increasingly compromised. The report reveals that 61% of parents feel their career goals have dimmed due to the logistics and costs of care. Alarmingly, 59% have contemplated leaving their jobs, while 52% express resentment toward their workplaces because of care-related pressures.

The financial implications of caregiving are profound. Parents report spending an average of 20% of their annual income on child care alone, with those also providing support for seniors and pets spending an additional 17%. The data shows that 78% of families allocate 10% or more of their household income to child care, with 20% spending over $30,000 per year on these expenses.

To cope with high costs, many parents are forced to make sacrifices, cutting back on entertainment (34%), relying on friends and family (32%), dipping into savings (31%), and delaying major purchases such as vacations (30%). Despite these challenges, 62% believe that professional caregivers should receive higher wages, illustrating a recognition of the value of care.

The report uncovers that caregiving burdens are not evenly distributed. Mothers and sandwich caregivers—those responsible for caring for both children and aging relatives—experience greater emotional and career-related strains compared to their counterparts. For instance, 60% of mothers feel overwhelmed by the dual demands of care and career, versus 42% of fathers.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, parents are vocal about potential solutions. A significant 74% believe having a better network of trusted caregivers would enhance their mental and emotional health. There is also widespread support for policy changes, with 95% advocating for expanded tax credits for care expenses, 93% favoring subsidized caregiving benefits from employers, and 91% in favor of universal child care.

The findings from Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report serve as a clarion call for greater awareness and action surrounding the caregiving crisis. As parents navigate the complexities of care, the need for systemic support—from improved care networks to policy changes—has never been more urgent. The time for a comprehensive approach to alleviating caregivers' burdens is now, as the well-being of countless families hangs in the balance.