Having a baby brings significant changes to family life, but the financial burden of raising young children is becoming increasingly difficult for many American households. Four in five parents say having a baby costs too much, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
The poll found that families with children aged three and younger face particular financial difficulties. Two in five parents in this group described their household finances as “struggling” or “just getting by.” Expenses related to childcare, diapers, safe car seats and nutritious food were among the major concerns.
Although nearly all parents surveyed recognised the importance of early childhood development for long-term health, many said they had to stretch their budgets to meet their children’s needs. Some worked additional hours, reduced spending on non-essential items or relied on secondhand baby clothes and equipment.
“Parents understand how important the first years of life are for a child’s health and development, but knowing what a child needs and being able to afford it are two different things,” said Mott Poll Co-Director Sarah Clark, M.P.H.
“These findings point to a difficult balancing act for families during a critical period of child development, when parents feel they’re choosing between meeting their child’s basic needs and covering the rest of their household expenses.”
Parents support policies to reduce the cost of raising babies
The poll surveyed a national sample of parents with children aged zero to 18 in July to examine the financial demands of raising young children and attitudes towards support programmes.
Paid leave during pregnancy or the newborn period received the strongest backing, with nearly three in four parents saying they would strongly support such a programme in their state. Six in 10 strongly supported programmes providing infant formula or healthy food, while more than half favoured free or reduced-cost childcare, free car seats and diaper assistance.
Parents of children aged three and younger were more likely than those with older children to strongly support these initiatives. They were also more likely to favour making assistance available to all families rather than restricting it to households that demonstrate financial need.
Clark said navigating support spread across multiple organisations and programmes could make it difficult for parents to identify and access the help they require.
“Families’ needs can look very different from one household to the next, and it’s difficult for parents when assistance is spread across many programs or organizations,” Clark said. “Programs that provide direct financial support – such as paid leave – give parents the flexibility to focus on their newborn and make decisions about what their family needs most.”
Financial pressures remain particularly severe for families already struggling to meet household expenses. More than one-third of parents who described their finances as “struggling” or “just getting by” said they worried about money constantly.
These households were more likely than financially comfortable families to cut back on additional purchases, work longer hours or set aside savings in advance. Parents from different financial backgrounds also reported purchasing secondhand baby clothes and equipment to manage costs.
“Parents are using different strategies to deal with the costs of having a baby, but these are not simply optional purchases or extras in a family budget,” Clark said. “Diapers, safe car seats, nutritious food and quality childcare all play a role in a child’s health, safety and development.”
Many parents are unaware of available support programmes
The survey also examined how parents of older children viewed assistance for families raising young children. Half of these respondents said they did not know which programmes provided the help young families needed most.
Community support was already taking place in several forms. Nearly two in five parents of older children reported donating to a local organisation or faith-based programme that assists families with young children during the previous two years. Another one in five said they had helped friends or relatives raising young children.
However, around two in five respondents said they had neither donated to such organisations nor provided this type of assistance.
The findings also revealed differences in attitudes towards public funding. Parents who had not donated were less supportive of using taxpayer money to help families with young children than those who had contributed. Some respondents preferred helping families they knew personally rather than providing assistance to strangers.
Clark said greater awareness of available resources could help communities translate their concern for young children into practical assistance.
“Parents may agree that young children need a strong start in life without knowing which programs can make that possible,” Clark said. “Making resources easier to understand and access, while giving families the flexibility to choose what works best for them, can help turn that shared goal into meaningful support for children.”
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