I have one child. The thought of a second gives me cold sweats β not because I don't want the child, but because the logistics are almost impossible.
Daycare for one: 5,000-8,000 yuan per month in Shanghai. After-school activities: 1,000-2,000 per month. Housing needs to be bigger. The care gap β daycare ends at 4, work ends at 6. Sick days eat your annual leave.
"Just have another one, they'll play together" ignores the crushing reality of childcare costs, housing costs, and the mental load on mothers. For dual-income families without live-in help or wealthy parents nearby β having a second child isn't a choice. It's a gamble most of us can't afford.