Baby And Children’s Products Are Seeing Major Price Hikes From Tariffs

As everyday household goods see increased prices from tariffs, more parents are growing worried over the unaffordable cost of caring for their little ones. Having a baby is already expensive, with most parents spending more than $29,000 per year per child. However, with tariffs added to the formula, American parents now deal with changing prices more often than changing diapers.

At least one in eight moms have concerns about rising costs due to tariffs. Parents require a steady flow of products to give their growing babies what they need. Diapers, wipes and formula are necessities for parents and will likely see price increases, even if they are manufactured in the United States.

Larger purchases, such as strollers, car seats and cribs, are often imported from China or other countries. In fact, 90% of baby care products and the parts that make them are made in Asia. Baby monitors and other children’s tech products that are essentials for new parents are examples of Chinese-manufactured goods that are currently subject to a 145% tariff.

Manufacturers are already sending notices to small business owners of baby stores and boutiques that steep price increases are coming. These tariffs are forcing Elizabeth Mahon, a Washington, D.C.-based small business owner, to raise the cost of everything from strollers to car seats in her store as her small business struggles to absorb the unpredictable price increases.

Tariffs are a tax on American consumers and as currently proposed, are estimated to total $4,900 in losses to family budgets. For households with children, tariffs only make parenting more unaffordable.

Every parent knows how often babies grow out of clothes and shoes. Unfortunately, 2025 tariffs will disproportionately affect clothing and apparel, as the Yale Budget Lab predicts American consumers will face 87% higher shoe prices and 65% higher apparel prices. Parents constantly buy new shoes, clothes and apparel to meet their growing baby’s needs. From summer swimsuits and flip-flops to winter coats and boots, Americans cannot afford to pay between 65% to 87% more.

As Steve Dunn, founder and CEO of Munchkin, a prominent baby product company, put it, “These tariffs are having devastating real-life consequences. These new tariffs are forcing us to halt orders, cut jobs and may soon prevent us from delivering essential baby products to parents nationwide.”

Parents are calling on lawmakers to put these tariffs to bed before the costs of their child’s crib doubles. There is no place for a tariff policy that puts more financial strain on American families. The last thing the government should do is make life more difficult for young families to succeed.