A recent congressional report indicates a notable price increase in essential baby products, attributed to the tariff policies implemented by President Donald Trump. The report highlights a 24% increase, amounting to an additional $98, in the cost of five commonly purchased baby items between April 1 and June 9.
The analysis, conducted by the minority committee of the Joint Economic Committee, focused on five key categories of baby gear: car seats, bassinets, strollers, high chairs, and baby monitors. The data was sourced from the baby registry platform Babylist.
Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., the committee’s ranking member, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “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.”
These findings emerge during a time when various companies are attempting to navigate Trump’s fluctuating tariff policies. Some firms have pledged to lessen the impact of the tariffs on consumers, while others, including major retailers Best Buy and Costco, have already implemented price hikes. Walmart and Target are also planning to raise prices on certain products.
The report further elaborates that baby gear in the U.S. is particularly vulnerable to these tariffs, with a staggering 97% of strollers and 87% of car seats being manufactured in China, according to Babylist.
Focusing on the most popular products, the committee’s report tracked price changes for items from the top five baby gear categories listed on Amazon. The bestsellers featured brands like Graco, AirClub, Summer by Ingenuity, Evenflo, and HelloBaby, with price variations monitored through comparison sites such as Keepa.com and Camelcamelcamel.com.
Among the examined items, the Graco car seat experienced the steepest price jump, with the Graco SnugRide Lite LX Infant Car Seat witnessing a 44.8% increase during the specified timeframe. The other products observed price hikes ranging from 10% to 30%.
A spokesperson for Newell Brands, the parent company of Graco, clarified that the reported increase in the car seat’s price coincided with a promotional sale period, suggesting a price rise of approximately $20 rather than the reported $43.
During an earnings call on April 30, Newell executives disclosed that they had raised prices on their baby products by about 20% and stated they were preparing for the impact of tariffs, barring any new increases on imports from China.
A broader assessment by Babylist encompassing 11 product categories, such as bouncers and diaper bags, revealed a collective cost increase of around $400 from March 10 to June 3. This rise represents an additional financial burden of approximately $875.2 million on new parent households across the U.S., according to data derived from the American Community Survey.
The analysis highlighted California parents as particularly affected, with an estimated additional cost of $100.3 million this year. Texas follows closely with $85.3 million, while Florida and New York face extra costs of $48.5 million and $48.4 million, respectively.
“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,” said Senator Hassan. She emphasized the pressing choice businesses face between workforce reductions, price increases for consumers, or potential closures.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding this issue.
