Infant care costs at least 10% of family budgets in most states: Study

It’s no secret having kids is expensive — from keeping them fed and clothed to making sure they’re cared for at all times — but it’s hard to say exactly how expensive they are. Now, for the first time, we’re getting an idea, at least when it comes to babies.

A newly released study by Brankrate shows care for just one infant costs at least 10% of a family’s yearly income in nearly every state. Child care has become one of the biggest expenses for parents nationwide, and Bankrate’s analysis found full-time center-based care in the U.S. cost an average of more than $14,000 in 2023 alone.