Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Children under 2 Spending
How much American households spend on children under 2 - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $77
- Share of spending
- 0.1%
- Change vs 2023
- -8.3%
- Change vs 2020
- +13.2%
Spending Insight: Children under 2
American households spent an average of $77 on children under 2 in 2024, representing 0.1% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 8.3% from 2023 ($84), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, children under 2 spending has risen by 13.2% (from $68 to $77), rising slower than the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over the same period, a decline in real, inflation-adjusted terms.
Income is strongly associated with children under 2 spending: the top income quintile spends $151/year versus $21 for the lowest quintile, a 7.2x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($92/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($70/year). Use the cross-cuts below, by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure, to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
Children under 2 spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $77 |
| 2023 | $84 |
| 2022 | $74 |
| 2021 | $66 |
| 2020 | $68 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
By Income Level (2024)
How children under 2 spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $21 |
| Second 20% | $54 |
| Middle 20% | $51 |
| Fourth 20% | $110 |
| Highest 20% | $151 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in children under 2 spending
By Age Group (2024)
How children under 2 spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $6 |
| 2 People | $108 |
| 3 People | $27 |
| 4 People | $148 |
| 5 or More | $180 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $82 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $112 |
| Renter | $32 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $77 a year on children under 2 - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how children under 2 spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on children under 2? ▼
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Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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