Recent media reports show that tariff policies are harming many industries in the United States. Steve Dunn, the founder and CEO of Munchkin, said the new tariffs are causing the industry to halt orders and lay off workers. He warned this would raise the cost of raising children for American families.

Dunn noted that Munchkin couldn't move the production of maternal and infant products to the U.S. They lacked the right tools, manufacturing know-how, automation, and skilled workers. Most maternal and infant products come from China. Now, with tariffs at 145%, the whole industry faces a serious setback.

According to BabyCenter data, the total cost of caring for a baby in the United States for a year is about $20,000. The Budget Lab, a nonpartisan policy research center in the United States,

The industry pointed out that the more costs of tariffs may be a heavy burden for young parents, especially considering that the current macroeconomic situation is in turmoil.

Raising children is more expensive and difficult

Trump once claimed that he hoped there would be more newborns in the United States, and the White House team has repeatedly emphasized that it will increase the birth rate in the United States, but Martha Gimbel, executive director and co-founder of the Budget Lab, criticized that babies are now almost out of places to sleep.

Gimbel said that Trump took away the money that parents could spend on their children, and parents were forced to reduce their investment in their children.

Dunn said that due to the ultra-high tariffs imposed by the United States on China, the entire maternal and child industry has stopped ordering products from China. These tariffs cannot be passed on to both parents, because the fertility rate in the United States is already at its lowest level in the past 40 years. Once raising children becomes more expensive, it will further suppress Americans' willingness to have children.

Munchkin operates about 12 different product categories, and the current inventory is only enough to support the next 60 to 90 days. Even if it starts to reorder now, American companies will have to wait 45 days for delivery.

In February, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) wrote to the Trump administration. They highlighted that tariffs on Chinese imports could harm products like car seats and cribs. These items are crucial for keeping infants and young children safe.

The association warned that rising tariffs could push families to buy second-hand goods or temporary substitutes. These options might not meet safety standards. Some families may even stop using protective products altogether, which would be harmful for infant care.

Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and chief analyst at research firm Forrester, also emphasized that car seats are not optional, but products required by law. Most hospitals even require parents to equip their babies with car seats when they are discharged from the hospital after birth.

In addition to these large products, milk powder, diapers, and baby clothes are also products affected by US tariffs. These products with high usage rates and frequent purchases will keep American families living under the pressure of high costs.