Parental woes: How tariffs could affect baby formula, diapers and other essentials
Parenting presents its unique challenges and the unpredictable changes in tariffs only make it harder to budget for essential baby items.
President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff switch-up has left many industries reeling, especially following his 90-day pause on imposing targeted tariffs on more than 75 countries announced Wednesday. A universal 10% still applies during this period, and some countries, such as China (currently saddled with an eye-watering 145% import tariff), were excluded.
As global markets attempt to make sense of the economic turmoil, so do consumers, including parents who already spend more than $29,000 a year per child, according to a recent report by LendingTree.
From ensuring child care, diapers, formula, wipes and clothes that are ever-changing in size to proper nutrition and car seats, the costs add up quickly for those with young children at home. And that’s before the tariffs.
As of Friday, no exemptions for baby or children’s products are outlined in any tariffs. In recent history, the 2022 Formula Act lifted tariffs on imported baby formula amid a nationwide shortage.
“Unless these items are excluded from tariffs, you could see prices increase very soon, though immediate shortages are not expected,” said a report by BabyCenter shared with Paste BN.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a nonprofit trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry, sent a letter to the Trump administration in late February, asking that “all juvenile products” be explicitly excluded from the tariffs on Chinese imports.
“The results can be devastating when American families are forced to rely on secondhand or older products that do not meet current safety standards,” the organization argued. “The death of even one American child due to unavailability of affordable lifesaving baby products is too many.”
Here’s what we know so far about the effect tariffs may have on baby and toddler essentials such as diapers and formula.
How will tariffs impact baby formula?
While prices will likely change, experts are not expecting another mass shortage of baby formula across the U.S. as we saw in 2022.
Larger manufacturers will likely find a way to absorb or spread the additional costs, though smaller producers may face a more challenging battle in keeping products stocked and prices stable, David Warrick, executive vice president at Overhaul, a supply-chain risk management company, told BabyCenter.
However, if you rely on a specialized, imported formula because of dietary intolerances and allergies, your wallet may be hit harder by the changes. Most of these specialized formulas are made in European countries, which, as of Thursday, were among those Trump hit “pause” on implementing tariffs against. Imports from the European Union were set at 20% before Trump announced the 90-day delay on Wednesday, but the baseline 10% remains.
“Parents who rely on imported or specialty formula brands may feel the impact more acutely since those products are brought in at smaller volumes and already face higher distribution costs,” Warrick told BabyCenter. “Tariffs only add to that.”
The formula supply chain is somewhat centralized and fragile in the U.S. Because half of the United States’ formula supply is purchased by the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government program annually, tight restrictions on which brands and types can be bought have resulted in something of a monopolized sector in the U.S.
Parents felt the pain of this in 2022, when the shuttering of just one Abbott factory in Sturgis, Michigan due to contamination disrupted 20% of the entire nation’s supply, resulting in a shortage that was only solved by the temporary removal of existing 17% tariffs to allow the mass importion of baby formula, primarily from Ireland, according to a U.S. International Trade Commission report.
Before this, however, the U.S. exported more baby formula than it imported. From 2017 to 2021, its baby formula export volumes were seven times higher than imports. Canada was the largest recipient, receiving 70% of U.S. exports on average during that time period.
How about diapers?
Like with most products, “made in the USA” does not necessarily mean every component therein was sourced and manufactured in the country when it comes to diapers.
Even if you stick to popular brands that often tout their “made in the USA” status, such as Huggies and Pampers, the equipment to make them, packaging and materials such as plastics may very well be imported, Warrick told BabyCenter.
“Even for products made in the U.S., there’s no guarantee of price stability,” he said. “Diapers rely on imported plastics and absorbent materials.”
Like with formula, larger manufacturers are more likely to find a way to distribute or absorb these costs, though it is yet to be seen if they will.
Disposable diapers, for example, are often made with fibrous wood pulp or plant-based materials such as bamboo fiber. China, Vietnam and India are the largest worldwide exporters of bamboo fiber, according to Volza Import Trade Data, and the primary exporters to the U.S.
Before the 90-day pause, products imported from Vietnam faced a 46% tariff, while those from India were set at 26%. China, not one of the countries benefiting from the 90-day reprieve, had a 145% import tariff as of Friday. The increased cost of importing raw materials used in manufacturing products like diapers drives the overall production price up, and, in turn, the cost is passed on to the consumer.
Parents may see other changes to their favorite diaper brand, such as fewer sales and promotions, smaller pack sizes or changes in how they are packaged, Warrick told BabyCenter. Fewer diapers for the same price is one way companies fight the additional costs.
“These subtle adjustments are common ways companies manage cost increases without changing the price tag – but they still affect family budgets,” Warrick said.
The fortunate news, again, is that a widespread shortage is not expected.
And strollers and car seats?
Car seats and high chairs may be disproportionately impacted, thanks to the U.S.’s reliance on China for these products.
As with formula, disruptions to the larger supply chain may significantly impact the cost and accessibility of strollers and car seats. Currently, juvenile products are heavily regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), according to the letter sent to the Trump administration by JPMA, and the complex supply chain built around these standards would be interrupted by the tariffs.
“Tariffs, particularly those on Chinese imports, will negatively impact product categories like car seats and cribs, the vast majority of which are manufactured in China,” said the letter. “Safety experts unanimously agree that these products are critical to keeping American babies and young children safe and healthy.”
More than 40 members of Congress likewise appealed to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on April 1, urging the administration to consider exemptions for baby and toddler products, specifically citing car seats, high chairs, strollers, and cribs.
Citing Trump’s promises of lower prices and Vice President JD Vance’s touting of a “pro-family” agenda, the letter asked the second Trump administration to follow in the steps of the first, which exempted some of these goods from Section 301 tariffs in 2018.
“American families should not be forced to choose between their livelihoods and reliance on poor quality baby gear,” said the letter. “In addition, we are particularly sensitive to the cost of car seats because all 50 states have laws designed to protect children traveling in motor vehicles. Families should not have to pay more to comply with the laws that help keep their babies and toddlers safe.”
Cost-cutting tips for parents concerned about tariffs
One seemingly universal piece of advice for parents: do not panic and do not stockpile. While it is always good to have a small backup stock of things like diapers and formula, BabyCenter advised to keep it reasonable, as most products mentioned above are not expected to go into immediate or acute supply shortage.
“It’s good to keep two weeks’ worth of formula on hand – for most babies who are strictly formula-fed, two cans are enough,” Leah Rocketto, BabyCenter’s associate commerce director, said in its report. “As a general rule, though, I recommend having one large box of their current size (of diapers) and a small pack of the next size at the ready, the latter of which will come in handy should they go through a sudden growth spurt,” she added.
Young children’s sizes, preferences, tolerances and intolerances change quickly as they age, she advised, meaning a stockpile made right now may not even be applicable for your child a few weeks or months down the road.
Instead of panic buying, BabyCenter suggests a few tips:
- Consider cloth or reusable diapers that can be washed at home. They can be purchased in packs and, while sometimes a higher initial investment, can replace weeks’ worth of disposable diapers.
- Look for similar formulas if the one you currently use becomes too expensive or difficult to find. Ask your pediatrician for suggestions on a similar type at a lower price tag.
- Set up subscriptions that give you discounts on scheduled, repeat orders, such as the 5%+ off on Amazon for setting up a subscription.
- Check your community and local mom groups for giveaways. Parents often have unused, sealed products like baby formula and diapers that they want to get rid of when doing spring cleaning. Be sure never to accept an opened package of formula and buy equipment with safety standards, such as car seats, new when possible, BabyCenter advises.
- Use discounts and loyalty programs to shave more off the cost of essentials. If you made a baby registry, the retailer will likely offer discounts on products not purchased off the list. Rewards programs like frequent shopper cards or points-accumulating accounts can also add up over time.
This story has been updated to fix a typo.