Surveys and real-life stories show grandparents increasingly becoming primary caregivers for young children. The trend highlights pressures on modern families and the tough choices parents face when balancing work, costs, and care.
A notable case involves a grandmother who began helping for a short period but ended up caring for her grandchild for months. Her fatigue and back pain underscored the need for clear boundaries and sustainable arrangements.
This shift is global. In many countries, data show rising reliance on grandparents as childcare costs climb and work patterns change. In the United States, more than 2.7 million grandparents serve as the primary caregivers to their grandchildren, reflecting economic stress, changing family structures, and pandemic-era disruptions.
Thai families will recognize echoes of familiar practices, yet the pattern is evolving in the modern era. Extended family support has long sustained childcare in Thailand, particularly in rural areas where parents migrate to cities for work. Urbanization and demographic shifts are intensifying both the scale of grandparent caregiving and the burden on older caregivers.
Experts see both benefits and challenges. Grandparents and other non-primary caregivers contribute to early development, but communities often lack formal recognition or support. In many places, grandparent caregiving has become more common even where strong family traditions prevail.
Millennial and Gen Z parents face what researchers describe as an “expectations gap”—the mismatch between idealized hands-on parenting and the realities of salaries, housing, and time. Parental burnout can manifest as persistent fatigue, emotional strain, or withdrawal from active childrearing. When fatigue becomes overwhelming, families often lean on grandparents for relief.
Policy discussions in Thailand and abroad increasingly consider formal supports for caregiving grandparents. Some countries explore stipends or social benefits, while others experiment with paid grandparent childcare. Debates also emphasize better support for both elderly caregivers and working parents.
Studies warn of burnout risks for both young families and older caregivers, especially where health declines or physical demands increase. Nutrition and health outcomes for children can vary between rural and urban settings when grandparents take the main caregiving role.
Thai health and family researchers note similarities across the country, particularly in the Northeast and North where multigenerational households are common. A senior researcher in Bangkok cautions that while intergenerational care strengthens family bonds, it can overburden grandmothers if demands exceed capacity. A leader of a Thai child welfare foundation stresses recognizing grandparents’ real needs and limits as Thailand ages rapidly.
Despite challenges, many view grandparent caregiving as stabilizing when supported. Shared responsibility and access to resources can ease financial strain and provide continuity of care steeped in cultural values. Without adequate support, well-intentioned arrangements can become stressful.
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these dynamics by disrupting formal childcare and shifting work patterns, pushing more families to rely on relatives. Thailand’s aging population and low birth rate intensify policy discussions about caregiver support, elder services, and welfare for multi-generational households. Public health experts stress that current supports for grandparent caregivers are insufficient, especially in urban areas where traditional practices meet modern constraints.
Community dialogues and practical steps matter. In Thailand, expanding community health services, offering respite care for elderly caregivers, and enhancing welfare supports for multi-generational households are crucial. The core message from experts: care for those who care for the young.
For Thai readers, the takeaway blends culture with practicality. Intergenerational support remains a national strength, but every generation must consider health, boundaries, and well-being. If an elderly parent struggles with caregiving, approach the topic with sensitivity, share the load where possible, and encourage honest conversations about needs and limits. If guilt or complex feelings arise, open reflection can strengthen family bonds over time.
Looking ahead, Thailand and other societies should nurture a culture that values caregiving at all ages, protects caregiver health, and integrates traditional practices with modern solutions. Families facing similar dilemmas should communicate openly and distribute responsibilities to ensure both children and elders are supported.