New policies support infant and toddler development; the three-child policy moves from slogans to real action

The three-child policy has been announced for several years, but the birth rate continues to decline. Where is the problem? Ultimately, previous policies only relaxed birth restrictions but did not effectively address families’ practical difficulties. The cost of raising a child—from pregnancy checkups, infant care, education expenses, to housing needs—each requires a significant amount of money. Young people jokingly say “can give birth but can’t afford to raise,” which is no joke. This reflects the real pressures of costs, time, and energy.

The central government has finally taken real action. The new support policy system is no longer just empty slogans but includes tangible measures across all dimensions—birth, nurturing, education, housing—to create conditions for infant development and benefit three generations.

Upgraded Birth Support, Laying the Foundation for Early Childhood Development

With infants and young children, the first priority is ensuring they are born healthy and receive early care. The new policies have made major adjustments to maternity insurance. Groups previously excluded—such as flexible employment workers and migrant workers—are now included in maternity insurance, providing coverage for childbirth medical expenses for unemployed individuals. Reimbursement rates for prenatal checkups have increased, and the cap has been raised. Some places have even achieved real-time settlement for checkup costs, eliminating the need for families to pay out of pocket and then wait to reimburse, greatly easing financial burdens.

In addition, the government has introduced maternity subsidies. For infants under three years old born in accordance with policy, families can receive an annual subsidy. While not a large sum, it represents the government’s support for family nurturing. Personal income tax deductions for childcare expenses for children under three have also been included, providing families with certain tax benefits. All these measures aim to lower the economic threshold for raising infants.

Improving Childcare and Education Systems to Support Growth

The critical period of infant development requires professional care. The challenge is that young parents must work to earn income while caring for their children—how to resolve this contradiction? The government has significantly expanded accessible childcare services, invested more resources in building childcare facilities, and encouraged employers and communities to develop childcare programs. The number of available spots is increasing, and service prices are becoming more affordable, enabling more families to send their children to formal childcare institutions instead of relying solely on grandparents full-time.

The parental leave system has also been officially implemented, allowing both parents to enjoy a few days of parental leave each year before the child turns three. This mandatory policy gives parents more time to participate directly in their child’s growth during the most critical developmental stages. On the education front, the coverage of affordable kindergartens is increasing, and the construction of supporting kindergartens in urban communities is advancing, allowing more children to access quality and affordable preschool education.

Reforms in Compulsory Education to Lay a Foundation for Growth

Since the implementation of the “double reduction” policy, students’ homework burdens have been significantly eased, and off-campus training has been strictly regulated, freeing families from spending large sums on tutoring. Schools now offer after-school care services that better coordinate with parents’ work schedules, solving pickup issues and eliminating the need for additional paid tutoring. The goal of achieving high-quality, balanced compulsory education is progressing, aiming to resolve the school choice frenzy and ensure every child has access to fair educational resources. All these reforms revolve around one core idea: making education a support for children’s development rather than a burden on families.

Housing and Income Support to Relieve Worries

Another major issue for families with multiple children is housing. When allocating public rental housing, the government considers the number of minors in the household, offering larger units to accommodate bigger families. Some regions have also introduced preferential policies for multi-child families purchasing homes, increasing the loan limits for housing provident funds, effectively easing housing pressures.

The core logic of these policies is clear: by reducing the costs of birth, nurturing, and education, addressing women’s career development concerns, and creating conditions that encourage young families to have more children. Previously, people didn’t really not want children; they felt powerless due to tangible economic and time pressures. Now, with these concrete support measures, these issues are being addressed one by one, giving young people more confidence.

Benefits for Three Generations, Ensuring Infant Development

The designers of this new policy system deeply understand family structures and intergenerational relationships. Young parents, with less financial and time pressure, can focus on career development; grandparents, through improved parental leave and childcare services, no longer need to be full-time caregivers and can enjoy their retirement; children grow up healthily in better childcare, education, and family environments, receiving comprehensive support for early development.

According to plans, by 2026, this proactive support system for childbirth will be basically established, with significant reductions in the costs of birth, nurturing, and education becoming a reality. The social atmosphere supporting childbirth is growing stronger, and factors that once constrained fertility intentions are being resolved one after another. As these policies are continuously improved and implemented, more families will be willing to consider having multiple children. The increase in birth rate is not forced but a natural choice under policy support.

This is not only of great significance to families but also vital for the country’s long-term development. Optimizing the population structure, ensuring sufficient labor resources, and enhancing national competitiveness all depend on the healthy growth of this generation of infants. The central government’s new policies resonate with the people’s concerns, using tangible measures to advance issues related to the future of the nation—truly serving the people and solving problems. The scale and comprehensiveness of this initiative are impressive, earning widespread recognition across society.