Baby gear just got a lot more expensive. And new parents aren’t happy about it.
A new congressional report shows the cost of essential baby items has jumped 24% since President Trump announced his latest tariff policies. That’s an extra $98 for five basic items every new parent needs.
The analysis comes from the Joint Economic Committee’s minority arm. They tracked prices between April 1 and June 9. April 2 was when Trump made his sweeping tariff announcement. The timing isn’t coincidental.
Five popular baby products were studied: car seats, bassinets, strollers, high chairs, and baby monitors. Data came from baby registry site Babylist. These aren’t luxury items. They’re necessities.
“New parents already have their budgets stretched thin by all the products that they have to buy for their child – the last thing they need is a new tax on babies created by President Trump,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. She’s the ranking member of the committee.
Companies are scrambling to deal with Trump’s shifting tariff policies. Some promise to absorb the costs. Others are already passing them along. Best Buy and Costco have already raised prices on some items. Walmart and Target say they plan to hike prices too.
Here’s why baby gear is particularly vulnerable: most of it’s made in China. According to Babylist, 97% of strollers and 87% of car seats come from Chinese factories. When tariffs hit Chinese goods, baby gear gets expensive fast.
The report looked at top-selling items on Amazon. Brands like Graco, AirClub, Summer by Ingenuity, Evenflo, and HelloBaby. They used price-tracking sites Keepa.com and Camelcamelcamel.com to measure changes over time.
The Graco car seat saw the biggest jump. The Graco SnugRide Lite LX Infant Car Seat got 44.8% more expensive during the study period. Other products rose between 10% and 30%.
But there’s some dispute about those numbers. A spokesperson for Newell Brands, which owns Graco, says the report is misleading. They claim data collection started during a promotional period. The car seat was on sale April 1, so the real increase was about $20, not $43.
Still, Newell executives confirmed during an April 30 earnings call that they raised baby gear prices by about 20%. They said they could handle Trump’s tariffs. Except for potential future hikes on Chinese imports.
The broader picture is worse. When Babylist analyzed 11 categories of baby products – including bouncers and diaper bags – costs jumped an average of $400 per family between March 10 and June 3. Across all new parent households in the U.S., that adds up to $875.2 million in extra costs.
Some states are getting hit harder than others. California parents face a collective $100.3 million in additional baby costs this year. Texas follows at $85.3 million. Florida comes in at $48.5 million, and New York at $48.4 million.
“Just in the last two months, the tariffs have made things even more difficult for new parents, forcing them to shoulder higher prices for car seats and other items that they absolutely need to keep their babies safe,” Hassan told CNBC. “And the tariffs are already forcing some businesses to choose between laying off workers, raising prices for customers, or closing altogether.”
The White House didn’t respond to requests for comment.
For new parents already dealing with sleepless nights and mounting expenses, these price hikes add another layer of stress. Baby gear isn’t optional. Car seats are legally required. Strollers are essential for getting around. High chairs are needed when babies start eating solid food.
The tariff impact is just beginning. As companies adjust their supply chains and pricing strategies, more price increases could be coming. New parents might want to stock up now. Before things get even more expensive.
