First Voice: ZERO TO THREE's National Parenting Survey

Q: Where are parents turning to most for advice?

Parents start close to home. About half (49%) turn to their own mom for advice , making her the most common source. Next come a partner or the child’s other parent (37%) and health care professionals or pediatricians (35%). On average, parents draw on five sources, from family and friends to Google, parenting websites and child care providers. Sorting through all that advice isn’t easy. 55% of parents say there’s so much parenting information out there that it’s hard to know who to trust. AI is starting to play a part: 18% of parents say they typically use AI for parenting advice or information, and 76% of those parents find it helpful.

Q: What kind of support do parents want?

Parents are asking for more help, both at home and in their communities. More than half of moms (56%) and nearly half of dads (47%) say they need more support. Their wish lists include access to free pre-K programs (63%), clearer information about available government and community services (60%), paid parental leave (58%) and child care options that better meet their needs (54%). Parents want practical resources that make raising young children a little easier.

Q: What do today's parents think about their mental health?

Today’s parents increasingly recognize that caring for themselves is part of caring for their children. More than half (53%) say they focus more on their own mental health and well-being than their parents did. Yet finding balance remains a challenge. Nearly one-third (31%) want more guidance on supporting their own mental health, while 32% seek advice on managing their emotional reactions as parents. They’re making their well-being a priority, but they need support along the way.

Q: What are parents doing differently from how they were raised?

Today’s parents are leading with more love, connection and attention to their children’s emotions. Six in 10 (61%) say they tell their children “I love you” more often than their parents did , while 59% spend more time playing with their children and 57% show more affection. They’re also rethinking discipline: 56% say their own parents used physical discipline, but they are choosing not to. This generation is intentionally building on what worked in their childhoods while creating new approaches rooted in empathy, connection and respect.

Q: What do they say is the best part of parenting?

For parents, the greatest rewards often come from everyday moments: watching their children grow, celebrating new milestones, sharing laughter and experiencing unconditional love. Despite the challenges, 88% say being a parent is their greatest joy , and 82% agree that parenting is the best job in the world. For today’s parents, the love, connection and sense of purpose that come with raising a child make the journey deeply rewarding.

Real Parents. Real Talk.

ZERO TO THREE's National Parenting Survey

Before babies understand words, they know the sound of a parent’s voice. A voice that brings comfort, builds connection and reminds them they are loved.

But how often do we stop and listen to parents of young children?

First Voice gives us a chance to better understand what parenting looks and feels like today, and what each of us can do to help. These findings are more than statistics. They are a call to listen and act.

Today’s parents are raising children with more affection, connection and attention to mental health, while navigating new challenges and looking for more support.

Whether you work with families, shape policy or simply care about young children, these findings offer a starting point for making a difference.

The First Voice National Parenting Survey

What does it take to raise young children today?

ZERO TO THREE is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. Since 1977, we’ve turned the science of early childhood development into trusted resources, professional training and public policy that help young children thrive.

First Voice puts parents’ experiences at the center of that work. Through the voices of 2,200 parents of children ages 5 and under, we get a closer look at the joys, challenges and realities of raising young children today.

Their message is clear: Parents want more time, trusted guidance and practical support to give their children the best possible start. By listening to their voices, we can help build a world where children thrive.

When I pick him up from school and his teacher said that he did something right that we’ve worked on at home, those are those validating moments where it’s like, all right, I’m doing a little bit right.”

-Anthony, 36

Key Takeaways

Parents are leading with love, but running on empty.

85%

ARE PROUD OF THE PARENTS THEY’VE BECOME

61%

OF PARENTS REPORT SAYING “I LOVE YOU” MORE OFTEN THAN THEIR PARENTS DID

56%

OF PARENTS WON’T USE THE PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE THEIR PARENTS USED

For policymakers, early childhood professionals and families, the research offers a closer look at where support is falling short and opportunities to make everyday life easier.

This is something that I always knew I wanted to do. I’m very proud of myself from where I was to where I am now. I love being a father.”

-Cobie, 35

The challenges parents face

These findings are more than statistics. They are a call to listen and give support.

1 IN 3 PARENTS

report struggling to provide the basics (food and rent) in the last month

"I feel like every time I get a raise, everything else raises as well."

-Anthony, Texas

63% OF PARENTS

want more safety and regulation of social media and AI

"I feel like the world is scarier. The world is so dangerous… my kids cannot step out the door."

-Silvia, California

42% OF PARENTS

report managing their own mental health is their greatest challenge

"Responsibility just stacks and it doesn't come off really… there is no break. The responsibility stage. And it's constant. It's never ending."

-Xavier, New York City

63% OF PARENTS

say the government should provide practical support; the number one requested program was access to universal pre-k

"Help can be lots of things. It can be subsidized daycare by the government… My sister in Washington, DC has subsidized daycare or they do sliding scale daycare."

-Natalie, California

I need to give myself grace every day. They don’t need a perfect mom; they just need a present one, a mom that can always circle back and apologize.

-Monica

A closer look

What parents need, what brings them joy and how parenting is changing.

Every number tells a story. These findings bring real parenting experiences into focus, revealing what families are navigating, celebrating and working toward every day.

Where are parents turning to most for advice?

What kind of support do parents want?

What do today's parents think about their mental health?

What are parents doing differently from how they were raised?

What do they say is the best part of parenting?

First Voice: Topline Findings at a Glance

Get the summary and fact sheet.

You get input everywhere you turn, and you have to filter that and decide what you keep and what you push back out.”

-Priscilla, 33

You can get involved

Every parent needs people they can count on.

Through First Voice, we’re bringing parents’ experiences into our Believe In Babies campaign, helping more people understand what families face and why investing in our youngest children matters.

Together, we are working to build a world where every baby can thrive.

Our methodology

First Voice: ZERO TO THREE’s National Parenting Survey was conducted by the Loran Group in 2026., The research combines a national survey of 2,200 parents of children ages 5 and under with in-depth parent discussions, building on research commissioned by ZERO TO THREE in 2015 and 2018.

With support from the Bezos Family Foundation and Vroom

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