<p>The intensity of caregiving demands can significantly influence household labor allocation decisions. We use administrative data from Chile to exploit quasi-experimental variation between having a child with a disability versus having one without a disability, in order to explore how increased caregiving needs, often associated with disability, may affect parental labor market outcomes. While prior research has documented child penalties, our approach aims to identify the potential role of caregiving intensity by comparing families with similar childbearing experiences but differing levels of caregiving needs. We find a significant gender gap associated with childbirth, which becomes substantially larger in the presence of childhood disability: four years after childbirth, having a child with a disability increases the gender gap in employment from 10% to 30%, and the wage gap from 41% to 61%. Childhood disability leads to increased parental specialization, creating intra-gender disparities: mothers of children with disabilities are 9% less likely to be employed than mothers of children without disabilities, while fathers of children with disabilities work 10% more than other fathers. These effects are strongest for mothers who are economically vulnerable or have weak prior labor market attachment. However, they are also substantial among mothers who were the main earners before childbirth, suggesting that even those with stronger labor market positions are not protected from the consequences of intensive care. As a result, despite the increase in paternal labor supply, total household income decreases. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive caregiving policies, particularly targeted support for families raising children with disabilities.</p>