As tariffs on imported goods begin to take effect, parents and retailers alike are bracing for significant price increases and dwindling availability of essential baby products. Charlotte Santoli, a sales associate, has been busy unpacking strollers and other inventory at a popular baby goods store located in Union Market, Washington. This surge in activity comes in response to President Donald Trumps recent tariff announcement made in early April, which is set to affect many imported baby products.

For expectant parents like Sam Rutledge and his wife, the news has dramatically accelerated their purchasing timeline. With their baby due in mid-July, they originally planned to leisurely shop for necessary items but have since scrambled to buy strollers, a car seat, a nursery glider, a crib, and a high chairall made overseas. Rutledge, a high school physics teacher, noted, These are all pretty expensive under normal conditions, but when it became clear tariffs were coming we decided to buy them in case they became prohibitively expensive.

Raising a child in America has always come with a hefty price tag. According to statistics from Baby Center, a well-known parenting website, the average cost for the first year of raising a child is approximately $20,384. The newly imposed tariffs, which range from 10% on imports from most countries to as high as 145% for imports from China, are likely to create even more financial strain for new parents.

According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, an influential U.S. trade group, around 90% of essential baby care productsincluding items such as bottles, diaper pails, strollers, and car seatsare manufactured in Asia, with the majority coming specifically from China. Lisa Trofe, the associations executive director, emphasized that overseas manufacturing has been a longstanding practice in the baby product industry.

Historically, this was not always the case. For instance, when Steven Dunn, CEO of Munchkin Inc., launched his company in 1991, it produced baby bottles in California. However, as business costs in the U.S. soared and American manufacturers closed down, Dunn shifted production overseas. Today, approximately 60% of Munchkins 500 products, which include a $5 sippy cup and a $254 Night Owl Stroller equipped with headlights, are sourced from China.

In light of the new tariffs, Dunn has stopped placing orders with Chinese manufacturers and has implemented a hiring freeze at Munchkins headquarters, which employs around 320 individuals. Dunn warned that the company could exhaust its inventory of certain products within just three months. There is no possibility of being able to pass on those tariffs, he stated, expressing concern about the financial implications for both retailers and consumers.

In recent years, Dunn has attempted to diversify Munchkins supply chain by moving some production to Vietnam and Mexico. He also invested considerable time speaking with American manufacturers to see if they could produce Munchkins new Flow Nipple Shield, a complex silicone product designed to assist breastfeeding mothers. Unfortunately, he found that most American manufacturers lacked the necessary expertise, and the product is now manufactured in Vietnam.

Throughout the industry, many baby brands and companies have chosen not to comment on the tariff situation when approached by The Associated Press. Companies such as Graco, Chicco, Britax, Nuna, Dorel Juvenile, UppaBaby, Evenflo, and Bugaboo were either unresponsive or declined to provide statements.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has lobbied the Trump administration for tariff exemptions, arguing that baby products are essential for childrens well-being. Although Trump previously granted exemptions for certain items like car seats and high chairs during his first term, it remains unclear if he will consider similar measures again.

Nurture & Co., a business specializing in nursery furniture, has taken steps to be transparent about the impending impact of tariffs on their pricing. They recently informed customers that they would temporarily lower prices on certain items due to the tariffs, but warned that these price reductions may not last past April 30. These are large purchases, these are investments, and this is a very sensitive life stage, explained Jill Gruys, Chief Merchant for Nurture & Co. We want people to make the best decision for their budget and their family.

Elizabeth Mahon, the owner of Three Littles, a baby shop in Washington, expressed her concern that the tariffs could render essential products unaffordable for many families. Mahon volunteers at the Department of Motor Vehicles twice a month, teaching parents about the importance of using car seats properly. She fears that higher prices could further complicate efforts to encourage families to use car seats, stating, No one is dying if they cant buy a toy, but if they dont have access to car seats, kids will get seriously injured.

Mahon has been proactive by securing additional inventory ahead of the tariff increases, but she warns that many small businesses may face devastating consequences as a result of the added costs. Similarly, Molly Ging, who operates The Little Seedling baby shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, shared her experiences, explaining that instead of placing Christmas orders, she is currently inundated with notices of steep price increases from her vendors. Its a lot to manage, and I just have no idea how its going to play out, she remarked, while acknowledging that demand remains high as customers rush to make purchases before prices rise.

Ging, a mother of several children herself, is motivated not just by business concerns but also by a desire to provide for her 13 employees, all of whom bring their kids to the workplace. Babies dont stop being born because there are tariffs, she added, highlighting the ongoing demand for baby products regardless of economic challenges.