Which visa option is better for a 1-year extension in Thailand: Retirement or Family Member?

you sure you qualify for the taking care of half thai children extension? If your child was born out of wedlock you'd need to have legal parental rights granted either from family court by decree or from the local Amphur if the child is old enough.

Pick what ever one you're going to get the year extension on because if you got the 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 (retirement) you couldn't get an extension based on raising half thai children from it 😮 you have to get at least ONE extension for the reason the visa was issued.

Also keep in mind that the year extension based on being over 50 (retirement) requires you have 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the extension, the money stamps in the account for 3 months after the extension is issued and then the balance can't go below 400K baht the rest of the year

Where as an extension based on raising half thai children only requires 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only on the date you apply for the year extension