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Parental burnout includes intense exhaustion and emotional distancing from the child.

Parental alliance reflects mutual support in communication, responsibilities, and childcare.

More agreement, support, and cooperation between coparents decreases burnout.

Becoming new parents is exhilarating, exciting, and one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It is also among the most stressful, challenging, and potentially discouraging experiences. But new parents can proactively stave off problems, including new baby burnout, by working together. Research explains.

The Protective Power of Parental Alliance

Jacopo Tracchegiani and Nicola Carone (2026) explored the value of parental alliance for first-time parents in “Parental Burnout, Personality, and Parenting Alliance.”[i] They defined parental burnout as including intense exhaustion, emotional distancing from the child, loss of parental fulfilment, and failing to view oneself as a good parent. They note that in some cases, burnout can increase the risk of violent or neglectful parenting, something I have seen during my 30-year career as a prosecutor.

Tracchegiani and Carone note that symptoms of burnout are particularly critical to monitor during the perinatal period—from conception to........

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