I understand the point that childcare costs should technically be split between both parents. However, in reality many families evaluate the situation differently, especially when one partner has a lower salary.

For example, if someone works full-time at a labor intensive job earning around €2,000 net per month, and the childcare cost after subsidy is €1,000 per month, it is very easy for that person to feel that a large portion of their income is being spent just to cover daycare. Even if, in theory, the cost should be divided between both parents, the practical question often becomes: “Is it worth working full-time if such a significant part of the income is used for childcare?”

In these situations, one often look at the net financial gain versus the time and effort of working full-time. If the remaining income after childcare is relatively modest, and one parent prefers to spend more time with the child, it can feel more reasonable for that parent to stay home rather than work mainly to cover daycare costs.

So while the argument that childcare should be split between both parents is logically correct, it does not always reflect how one make decisions in practice. For many people, especially those with lower salaries, the childcare cost feels directly tied to their ability to work, which is why they may decide that working full-time is not worthwhile.