Raising a child from infancy to 17 years old in the United States comes with a hefty price tag. While an exact figure is difficult to pinpoint, it’s clear that costs will continue to rise due to the Trump administration’s tariff policy.
One estimate suggests that raising a child born in 2015 could cost a middle-class family nearly $320,000 over 17 years. This includes expenses such as childcare, healthcare, food, clothing, education, transportation, and activities.
As tariffs affect these essential products, companies catering to parents will feel the impact. In some cases, certain items may even become unavailable due to increased costs. With being a parent already an expensive endeavor, adding tariffs to the mix could further strain family budgets.
The consequences of tariff policy on parenting expenses are far-reaching and should be taken into consideration as policymakers weigh the effects of trade policies on everyday families.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/1245273518/raising-kids-is-costly-tariffs-will-make-it-even-more-expensive