> When families have 2 children under 5, the cost of childcare for both children encroaches the income of one parent alone.

Except: 1) That was true BEFORE the pandemic, yet there was no labor shortage. 2) Salaries have gone up due to the (temporary) labor shortage, so it should be easier for more parents to justify childcare costs.

So I don't see that it has anything to do with the current situation.