Being a mum IS a full-time job, it has emerged - after a study found the average mother devotes a staggering 57 hours a week to tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing and playing nurse to the family. The research found that typically a mum carries out 34 tasks per day, a grand total of 238 each week.
A hardy three quarters of the 2,000 mums polled worked at least in a part-time capacity, doing an average of 24 hours of paid work a week on top of their role as a mum- revealing that many are putting in an 81 hour week for the family.
The research into the efforts of Britain's mums was commissioned by health advice website All about Health.
The poll found more than 80% of mums felt raising children was undoubtedly a full-time job in itself, even admitting their role as a mum was more stressful and demanding than their paid job.
Juggling everything for the children and managing her own working life means the typical mum says she doesn't get to sit down and properly relax until 8.30pm.
All about Health pharmacist Kajal Ruda said:
''The amount of hard work that goes into being a mum is clear with many juggling work and motherhood.
''As mums are the driving engine in many homes, it's important they are supported as much as possible and have the resources to hand that can help them make the right decisions.
''In addition to the long list of daily jobs, mums are often the one who looks after the health of the family by ensuring the medicine cabinet is always topped up and dishing out medication to poorly children, and can find it increasingly difficult to keep up to date with healthcare advice."
The study also found that mums take their role very seriously - a third of those polled described themselves as overprotective of their children.
While one in four worry regularly about whether they are giving their child the correct medication when sick or in pain.
Six in ten mums said they medicate their children based on 'gut instinct' when illness strikes, and a third confessed to relying purely on memory in terms of dosages.
When it came to administrating medication, many mums were confused and while they have to play a nursing role, tending to bumps and bruises, only a third knew the correct procedure when applying compresses and ice packs.
Pharmacist Kajal Ruda added:
''When your child is ill you want to make them better as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is to seek advice and information from a healthcare professional.
''I'd advise them to pop into the local pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist who would be more than happy to offer information and friendly advice on medicine usage and topics such as pain management, to ease some of their worries and help them make the best healthcare choices for their family.
''They can have a private chat if preferred and there's no need to book an appointment so perfect for mums to nip in when they find a moment in their busy day or are passing by.
''Visit allabouthealth.org.uk and use the postcode locator to find your nearest pharmacy.''
Six in ten didn't know you could mix ibuprofen and paracetamol two to three hours apart, while the same number were unaware that aspirin should not be given to under 16s.
Worryingly, three quarters were unaware that you should be cautious about giving ibuprofen to a child who has asthma because may restrict the airways.
TOP 40 JOBS MUMS DO EACH DAY
1. Wake the children/child up
2. Serve dinner
3. Wipe down the kitchen sides
4. Make beds
5. Clean the kitchen
6. Put a load of washing on
7. Make breakfast for everyone
8. Pack dishwasher or wash up
9. Get child/children to brush teeth
10. Hang out a load of washing
11. Get the children to get ready for bed
12. Pack up the lunch boxes
13. Help child/children with hair
14. Get the children to do their teeth before bed
15. Vacuum
16. Get child/children dressed
17. Check for any school paperwork
18. Remind family of the day's appointments/clubs
19. Get the children to have a bath
20. Take child/children to school in the morning
21. Put shoes and coats away
22. Read with each child
23. Lay out school uniform and shoes
24. Tidy up the toys from that day
25. Unpack and wash lunch boxes
26. Address any homework that needs doing that evening
27. Pick child/children up from school at the end of their day
28. Feed the pets
29. Pack child/children's school bags
30. Pack bag for work
31. Write in the children's homework books
32. Put on the slow cooker/defrost something for tea
33. Remind the children about good behaviour for the day
34. Prepare an after school snack
35. Ferry child/children to appropriate clubs
36. Unpack the dishwasher from the morning
37. Prepare sandwiches for the lunchboxes the following day
38. Split up any arguments
39. Rinse out water bottles
40. Test children on homework in the car on way to school
