Too Late For China? Young Couples Can't Be Convinced To Have Babies

For 4 decades, Chinese couples abided by the one-child policy before the switch to a two-child policy in 2016 due to falling birth rates. In May 2021, the Chinese government switched to a three-child policy. Young Chinese parents are also offered support in the form of maternity leave, nursery services and subsidies for childbirth, kindergarten and school.

Married Chinese couples in their 20s to 40s would have grown up in a single-child household, accustomed to being the only child without many relatives or cousins. Add in high costs of raising kids in urban cities, career expectations - many young Chinese couples are drawn to the childless or one-child only lifestyle.

Michael Li and Tina Wang for instance are a typical DINK (double income, no kids) couple. They prefer to lead a couple lifestyle, with time dedicated to themselves and the opportunity to focus on their careers.

An IT professional interviewed said if he wants a second child, his wages must double or even triple.

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[chunom]

"If i were to have a second child, my wage will have to double or even triple"
Pretty much sums up the situation, it's not about not wanting, it's about not financially able to

[justsaiyansteve]

Parenting is not for everybody. Respect for those choosing their own path.

[scorpionheart]

"it's not just the finances we're worried about, it's also that we can't guarantee a good future for our kids"
This is a sign of a good human being who thinks about the quality of life a child would have instead of having kids for the sake of having kids

[torachan]

Every person complaining that younger couples aren't having children, should have 10 children themselves.

Be the change you want to see in the world

[Neonmusicity]

I honestly just don’t have the patience to take care of a child and I am not ashamed to admit. There are both mental, financial and health problems.

[jeannekambara]

This vid is cool, but can we talk about how cute and wholesome the main couple is? The woman is very sensible, neat, and dedicated and the man is very supportive, intelligent, and sweet. They just want to be comfortable and grow old together. Also he looks so good in his pink sweatshirt!

[TwoLargePizzas]

I can barely take care of myself, why would i want to add on the extra stress of bringing another human being into the world to suffer?

[Minchya]

I have an example from Australia, in early 2000's government tried to make a baby boom by offering $6, 000 AUD to anyone having a baby, the result ? all the wrong type of people having babies for the money, druggies and low class, teenage mothers, the exact type of people who are not good parents making babies for the wrong reasons.

[VampTwinkie]

I feel for the situation, because honestly, I can barely afford to keep a roof over my head…I’m so accustomed to starving myself food isn’t as important to me as long as I’m not homeless…that’s my biggest fear! And to add a child to that, yikes

[exodusxenon]

i think people are getting sick of repetitive life. struggle for education, job, marriage, children & their education. you need fund for your own burial.

[MissGourmandefr]

It’s not about the fact that raising a kid is too expensive in China, it’s about the fact that meeting the expectations of society for their kids (a lot of supplementary lessons and extracurricular activities) costs a lot. China is known for its extreme competitiveness regarding education….and cram schools and sports clubs take advantage of that by applying high fees.
Them spending about 8k$ on a kid each year is crazy to me (I live in France)

[rhuyisia]

Each one his own! I dun have kids! I married very late at 38yo! I lost 2 babies at mid trimester which were very sad and traumatic for me! Now in my mid 60s, apart from the occasional loneliness especially so during this covid pandemic, I had enough "space" to do things that I love now in my retirement which I could ill afford before! Also, stories of children abandoning "penniless" old parents after taking all their "possessions" freaked me out! On hindsight, I should be satisfied with whatever little I have until the very end!

[sidneyboo]

I wish more people thought like them. So many people have kids because society tells them to and then they realize having kids isn't their thing so they start neglecting the child. So many neglected, hurt children from peoples insecurities. Glad to see lots of couples realizing that it isn't for them and leaving it at that.

[TheRealCcE]

Let’s be fair, they didn’t only convince them to have one child. They punished their citizens severely too by traumatizing them.

[silverbeast]

2:24- i like that they calculate and plan the cost of giving their child a quality life with experiences. alot of typical poor families will have children with no planning at all. forget extracurricular activities, its lucky to even have new sets of clothes. everyone should teach budgeting and family planning to poor people. quality over quantity!

[SaintOfUnholiness]

The problem is literally that children are expensive to have. You can't force couples to struggle just to raise the birth rate.

[hilaholo]

I really like this couple mindset especially the husband which said that when his wife shopping, he want his wife to be able to buy whatever she want and not waiting for it to sale. In my country, we still pressured to have children as soon as possible and getting married before 30 is a must, especially for woman, no matter how successful she is.

[anerdwithglasses]

I'm not having kids either..sorry but being parents doesn't look like a fulfilling thing to be at all.
Always stretched just to provide the bare minimum and always too busy trying to get by.
Yea no thanks I'll skip that.

[Howto-uyvo]

This is great, and so very responsible. So many previous generations just pressured relentlessly by parents and society to have children or be regarded as failure. In a world where we are supposedly facing over population, having children should be left to those who absolutely want children, it would be better for everyone especially the children.

[noriadongeng]

As a parent of two teenagers, I can't agree more. Having children is a big responsibility, it is not just abt providing for them financially but also making sure tht you are raising them right with the right values etc. It can be overwhelming sometimes.