Supporting a Child

What does it take to support a child?

Kids need time, love, emotional support, and stability. They also need to have their basic needs met: shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and protection from harm. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, survival needs like food, water, shelter, and sleep followed by health, employment, and security must be met before an individual can satisfy their higher needs and realize their full potential. 

Supporting children to have their basic needs met costs money. Many parents eventually find out that raising kids is more expensive than they originally thought. From birth to 18, parents will pay an average of $237,482 per child. A study published in 2023 found that Colorado is the sixth most expensive state to raise a child.

Let’s go a little deeper. Here’s how much it costs as of 2024 to pay for things a child needs. 

Diapers: $86

• Approximate cost per diaper—26 cents; babies require 10 to 12 changes per day for the first three months. 11 diapers x 30 days at $0.26 each = $85.80 per month or $21.45 per week.

Car Seat: $127

• The cheapest of the 10 best car seats for 2023 cost $126.99. The most expensive cost $230.

Stroller: $150

• Strollers vary in price anywhere from $55 to $1,100.

Crib: $150

• Cribs need to be safe, stable, and easy to use. Highly-rated cribs range from $400-$1,500. 

Baby clothes: $20-$50 per month 

Doctor’s visit without health insurance: $95 per visit 

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants need seven well-baby visits, which is $668 per year. 

Infant child care costs: $1,730 per month 

• Infant child care for a single child costs an average of $1,730 in the Denver metro area ($834–$2,791 per month depending on where you live).

Are these costs what you expected them to be? Raising a child isn’t cheap, and that’s why families with more money often have better outcomes for their children. By getting your education and starting your career before having a child, you and your family are more likely to get your needs met and be economically mobile. Understanding where and how to get help from programs like child support helps, too.