Tariffs expected to spike baby gear prices

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On April 29, 2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Additional fallout from the recent tariff war, this time focused squarely on new and expecting parents.

With many kid safety products like car seats made overseas, get ready, because the price of baby gear could be going up.

But before you panic, there are things you can do now to save money later.

Ever since the announcement in early April of widespread tariffs on foreign imports, United States consumers have been gearing up for the expected price hikes.

One area of concern, especially to those with young children, are the big-ticket childcare items like strollers, highchairs, cribs and car seats.

It’s no exaggeration to say they’re necessities.

“The car seats. The child has hit the weight limit for one car seat and now they don’t have a safe car seat to put their child in. And they need it. So, I think that for them it truly is a matter for the safety of their children.” Said Kenzie Kinsella.

Kenzie Kinsella is a manager at It Takes a Village, a non-profit out of Huntington for families in western Massachusetts, that provides several free services including baby and child supplies.

Last year alone It Takes a Village gave out nearly $714,000 in basic needs supplies.

And many of those basic needs for a baby are made overseas, the vast majority in China with now a 145% tariff.

As a result, prices for the leading brands of strollers have already gone up by hundreds of dollars.

In fact, the online baby registry Babylist.com said stroller prices have increased 25% on average, while the cost of car seats has gone up on average 20%.

Kinsella said these sudden price jumps are impacting more and more families.

“A base of our clientele is medium-low to low income. And what we’re seeing is, we’re seeing families that, it’s midlevel income that are starting to come.”

Still, there are ways you can be proactive. According to consumer reports, all prices across the board won’t go up overnight.

They suggest streamlining your priorities to focus on those products that ensure your baby’s safety first, like a car seat and a crib.

If possible, wait for big sales to soften the sticker price.

Look into rentals, you might be able to rent an item line a bassinet or travel crib that you’ll only need for a short time.

Seek out free options. In Massachusetts, free car seats are available through state programs for low-income families, and non-profits like It Takes a Village.

“We see people, people think ‘Oh just around Huntington,’ but we see people from 125 different towns in Massachusetts. People come from out of state to come to specifically the Village Closet because the program that we run here is just unparalleled to other programs.”

Nearly 50 members of congress have issued a statement opposing price increases on essential baby gear and called on the commerce secretary to exempt them from tariffs.