American families face higher prices for baby essentials. 

“Babies deserve love — not tariffs.”  

That was the text on a striking, full-page ad in the Washington Post taken out by the baby registry platform Babylist and a handful of other family-focused brands.  

The ad was to raise awareness for the plight of families with newborns who have been “caught in the crosshairs” of the latest trade war.  

RELATED: U.S. – China Trade War 

Especially now that the U.S. is facing its lowest birth rate in over 40 years, these advocates are calling for an end to the “baby tax.” 

Here are three numbers you need to know about the trade war’s effect on childcare:  

$20,384 

According to Baby Center, a parenting website, the first year of a baby’s life can cost a fortune – $20,384, to be exact. This figure includes childcare, doctors’ visits and medicine, and all the nursery gear like cribs and strollers.  

Parents polled by Baby Center reported spending about a third of their income on baby-related expenses. Baby Center warns that the new tariffs could send prices even higher.  

91% 

China is the single biggest supplier of hydrocortisone for the U.S., accounting for 91% of imports. When babies suffer from diaper rash or other skin irritations, the Mayo Clinic recommends hydrocortisone as a safe and effective home treatment.  

It’s just one of many pharmaceuticals – including many used by newborns – that the U.S. depends on other countries for. 

87% 

Nearly all car seats – 87% – are made in China. Parents obviously want to keep their children safe, but they’re also legally required to: all 50 states have laws mandating car seats for infants.  

With record high tariffs on Chinese goods, it could get much harder for Americans to raise their families.  

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