China’s ‘Temporary Mothers’: Convenience Meets Concern

A new childcare service offering “temporary mothers” at rates up to 100 yuan (approximately $14) per hour has emerged across Chinese cities, filling a critical gap for busy urban families while raising pressing questions about safety standards and regulatory oversight. The service, which connects stay-at-home mothers and former preschool teachers with families in need of short-term childcare, operates through social media platforms using an online-ordering, offline-service model.

A Growing Need in Urban China

The phenomenon has gained particular traction in Shenzhen, a first-tier city known for its high concentration of dual-income families and relatively high birth rates. According to Xinhua News, the service addresses childcare gaps created when grandparents cannot help, parents face unexpected work commitments, or live-in nannies suddenly depart.

“In large cities, especially first-tier cities, childcare needs are more concentrated in after-school scenarios or when parents are temporarily unable to supervise,” said Han Wei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security. “Compared to traditional nanny services, temporary childcare is relatively lower cost and serves a complementary role.”

Who Are the ‘Temporary Mothers’?

Most practitioners are stay-at-home mothers with childcare experience or former kindergarten teachers with professional early education backgrounds. Yang Yang, a 37-year-old mother of two from Shenzhen, began offering temporary childcare services in June after obtaining a health certificate. In July, she earned approximately 3,000 yuan from a stable client who required about four hours of daily care.

Miao Miao, a 30-year-old former preschool teacher and mother of three, left institutional childcare in August 2025 to become an independent provider. She charges 50-60 yuan per hour for basic care and up to 120 yuan per hour for specialized early education services, earning 4,000-7,000 yuan monthly.

“Practitioners with professional backgrounds don’t just simply play with children,” Miao said. “Beyond safe care, we provide age-appropriate interactive and early education services. This is why parents are willing to pay extra.”

The Trust Problem

The industry faces significant trust and safety challenges. A report from Pedaily.cn highlighted the experience of Dashu, a 28-year-old stay-at-home mother who began offering childcare at 40 yuan per hour. “At first I thought this job was easy - just playing with kids, right?” she said. “But once I actually went to people’s homes, I realized how hot this money burns in your hands.”

Miao Miao experienced the trust issue firsthand when a misunderstanding at a playground led a parent to call the police. The incident was resolved, but it highlighted the lack of formal communication protocols in the industry.

Legal and Regulatory Gaps

Tan Zicheng, a lawyer at Guangdong Penghao Law Firm, notes that most person-to-person temporary childcare arrangements constitute labor service relationships rather than employment relationships, meaning they are governed by the Civil Code rather than labor contract law.

“Parents, as legal guardians, do not fully transfer their guardianship responsibilities to the service provider just by paying for temporary care,” Tan said. “If the service provider causes an accident due to negligence, they bear responsibility according to fault. If parents fail to disclose allergy history or safety hazards in the home, they also bear corresponding responsibility.”

Experts recommend establishing basic entry requirements, service standards, health and criminal record verification, professional training, and insurance support for the emerging industry.

What This Means for Chinese Families

For many parents, the service offers more than convenience - it provides a lifeline. Meiya, an internet company operations manager in Shenzhen, paid 150 yuan for three hours of childcare when unexpected overtime conflicted with school pickup. “That 150 yuan bought the ability to not have to choose between being a mother and being a career woman,” she said.

As reported by Tencent News, the service reflects broader structural pressures on Chinese families, including high housing costs, inflexible institutional childcare, and the high cost of full-time nannies. The question now is whether regulators will establish formal standards for this emerging industry before a serious incident forces the issue.

Looking Ahead

As the service continues to expand beyond Shenzhen, stakeholders are watching for regulatory developments. The industry’s future will depend on whether clear service agreements, transparent information display, professional training, and insurance support can be established to protect both families and practitioners in this rapidly growing sector of China’s gig economy.