【Epoch Times, October 19, 2026】Raising children to adulthood can be described as a massive undertaking, requiring time, effort, and money, which can put significant mental and financial pressure on parents. A recent survey found that four out of five parents believe that the cost of raising children is too high.
In a national survey on children’s health conducted by the University of Michigan Health’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, researchers sampled parents across the United States with children aged 0 to 18 in July to understand the economic burden of raising children.
The survey revealed that raising children is indeed costly, especially for children aged 3 and under. Among parents with young children, two-fifths described their financial situation as “very difficult” or “barely making ends meet.” The highest expenses for these parents were related to maintaining the health and safety of children, such as child safety seats, diapers, nutritious food, and quality childcare services.
Sarah Clark, co-director of the hospital’s survey, stated, “Parents understand how critical the first few years of life are for a child’s health and development, but knowing what their child needs and being able to afford those needs are two different things.”
Nearly all parents surveyed agreed that early development is crucial for long-term child health. However, to cope with these expenses, many families often have to budget carefully, work extra hours, cut back on spending, or even rely on second-hand items.
Many support programs for parents can alleviate this economic pressure, with paid leave for pregnancy or newborn periods being the most popular. Almost three-quarters of parents said they strongly support implementing such programs in their state.
Sixty percent of parents strongly support programs providing formula or healthy food, while over half strongly support the government providing free or discounted childcare services, child safety seats, and diapers.
The study found that parents with children aged 3 and under were more likely to strongly support these programs compared to parents with older children. They also tend to believe that such assistance should be available to all families, not just those who can prove economic need.
For parents already struggling financially, these expenses can become a constant source of stress. Over a third of parents who described their financial situation as difficult or barely making ends meet said they are constantly worried about money.
Compared to families with better financial conditions, financially struggling families are more likely to cut back on non-essential expenses, work longer hours, or save in advance to cover the costs of raising young children. Additionally, regardless of economic status, many parents mentioned they would use second-hand baby clothes and items.
The survey also explored how parents with older children in the household support families with young children. Nearly two-fifths of parents with older children stated that in the past two years, they had donated to local organizations or religious fundraising projects to help families with young children, while one-fifth had provided assistance to friends or relatives with young children.
In addition to seeking assistance programs or help from other families, an increasing number of American families are turning to parents or grandparents for financial aid. For these families, the cost of raising a child starting at $300,000 is a significant burden.
In cases of exorbitant childcare costs, some couples may decide not to have children or have only one child. However, a study conducted by the University of Helsinki in Finland indicates that women with too many, too few, or no children seem to age faster. Women who have 2 to 3 children often have the longest lifespan.