No, the mothers are not biologically made to get up at night

An almost identical hearing sensitivity between men and women

Researchers from the University of Aarhus (Denmark) conducted a study published at the beginning of 2025 in the magazine Emotion To check if women are biologically more reactive to the crying of the children’s night.

In a first experience, 142 adults without children slept at home while the sounds – complaints or alarms – were broadcast at various sound levels.

Result: women woke up about 14 % more often than men only because of very low sounds (33-44 db), equivalent to a murmur. At higher volumes, the responsiveness of both sexes was identical.

Night reality: the mothers three times more stressed

A second study focused on 117 couples of new parents, who noticed their night awakenings for a week.

Women have shown that they are three times more often active than men to respond to the child’s crying. In only 23 % of couples, sharing was balanced. This clear contrast cannot be explained by the slight sensory difference identified in the first phase of the study.

Above all social causes, non -organic

The gap between mothers and fathers in night care, according to the authors, is more of social than biological construction. Several factors intersect:

• Maternity leave is almost always taken before paternity leave, offering mothers More experience in early care.
• Breastfeeding often encourages mothers to intervene while fathers sleep.
• Finally, the standards and expectations towards the mothers generally put them on the front line for night care, strengthening a “expected” mental load circle.

Simulations against reality: the gap remains enormous

The researchers also simulated nights with a child (events from 4 to 5 nights), accidentally attributing the alarm clock according to the sensitivity observed.

In these models, women took only 57 % of night interventions. However, in reality, mothers took about 76 % of night care: a significant difference that the simulation has not reproduced.

What parents must remember

For parents, this study offers several useful paths:

• Distinguish myth and reality: Women are not “programmed” to listen to the child more than men.
• Rebalance the load: Encourages a more active involvement of fathers from the beginning.
• Rethink the night routines: Establish shared gestures such as changes, comfort or bottle, even if the mother is breastfeeding.
• Alleviate the mental load: Organize night towers to prevent maternal exhaustion and marital tensions, which often occur due to the disproportionate lack of sleep experienced by mothers.