§18 · 6 tips
What can you claim for having a child, and how much time and money does it take?
Tips from this section that apply in the United States.
Turn the hours a day spent watching the child and the number of times you are woken at night into time. Then multiply by the hourly wage of the person doing the work. The number you get is usually far larger than the cost of formula and diapers. So it is best to agree on who does what before the baby is born.
From 0 to 3, the money goes mainly to how the child is looked after: yourselves, the grandparents, or someone you hire. From primary school to junior high, it goes mainly to housing and extracurricular costs. After that, it goes mainly to the path of further schooling. The three stretches are spent very differently, and lumping them together only gives a frightening total.
That other people hope you will have a child can count as one of your considerations. But the time and money are recorded on your own account. "Raising a son to provide for old age" (养儿防老) should be counted as a separate item, because it bets on another person's finances and willingness twenty years from now. Also write down the consequences of not having a child, and compare the two sides.
These tips describe mainland-China rules and do not apply in the United States; they are here for people living in China.
If your child was born on or after January 1, 2025 and is not yet 3, you can claim this money. One of the parents applies where the child's hukou is registered. It is 3600 yuan per child per year, paid until the child turns 3. The money is not subject to personal income tax. When you apply for assistance such as the minimum living allowance (低保), it is also not counted as your household's income.
You are entitled to at least 98 days of maternity leave, and you can take 15 days of it before the birth. A difficult birth adds 15 days. Each additional baby also adds 15 days. The money paid during this time is called the maternity allowance (生育津贴) and comes from the maternity insurance fund. If your employer did not enroll you in maternity insurance, the employer pays it.
During pregnancy, after giving birth and while nursing, it is illegal for the employer to cut your pay or dismiss you, and it is fined 1000 to 5000 yuan per person. If your child is under 1 year old, you have 1 hour a day for nursing, and the employer also may not schedule you for overtime or night shifts. For how to claim compensation, see .
