Page Title

Disclaimer: BS Kids LLC legal research and information has been prepared for educational and informational purposes only. This material is not
legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a
lawyer-client relationship between BS Kids LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act
upon this information without seeking professional counsel. The opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on
information found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 78 Canterberry Court, Hudson, NH 03051 781-756-1214.

A Child Advocacy Company
Bringing Support to Parents
Building Strength to Children

News

The Cost of Raising A Child:

Middle-income family spends $221,000 to raise baby

ST. LOUIS – It's no secret that raising children can be expensive, but how about nearly a quarter of a
million dollars expensive?

A government report released Tuesday says a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend
about $221,000 raising that child through age 17.

The report by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion identified housing as the largest single
expense, followed by food and child care/education costs. The $221,000 in expenses rises to about
$292,000 when adjusted for inflation. USDA economist Mark Lino, who co-authored the report with Andrea
Carlson, often hears people say children cost a lot when the annual findings are issued.

"I tell them children also have many benefits, so you have to keep that in mind," he said.

Families with more income spend more money on child-related costs, the report said. A two-parent family
that earns less than $57,000 annually will spend about $160,000 on a child from birth through high school.
Those with an income between $57,000 and $99,000 spend about $221,000 and those with higher
incomes are expected to spend roughly $367,000 through age 17. Most single-parent households in the
U.S. makes less than $57,000 and are expected to spend about 7 percent less on child-rearing costs
compared to two-parent households in that same income group, according to the report. Costs of raising a
child are highest in the urban northeast and lowest in the urban south and rural areas.

The USDA report helps courts and states determine child-support guidelines and foster care payments. It
does not address costs specifically related to childbearing and paying for college. One of the largest
changes over time has been the increase in costs related to care for young children.

The report was first issued in 1960, when such costs were largely negligible, but with more working families
turning to outside help with child care, it has grown to be a significant expense for many families. The
report does not give total costs related to early child care.

A mother of three, Raben Andrews of St. Louis, said the government figures sounded right to her. "Well,
that's not half of it," joked the 42-year-old public school teacher. "I still have to put the little buggers
through college."