Children under 2 Spending

How much American households spend on children under 2 — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$77
Share of total 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), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of 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)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $77
2023 $84
2022 $74
2021 $66
2020 $68

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

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in children under 2 spending

Midwest
$70
0.1%
Northeast
$83
0.1%
South
$70
0.1%
West
$92
0.1%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How children under 2 spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $207
35–44 $135
45–54 $41
55–64 $30
65–74 $22
75 and older $15
Under 25 $61

See full age breakdown →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on children under 2? ▼
The average American household spent $77 on children under 2 in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.1% of total household spending.
Is children under 2 spending increasing? ▼
Children under 2 spending decreased by 8.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($84 to $77). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +13.2%.
How does income affect children under 2 spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $21/year on children under 2, while the highest quintile spends $151/year — a 7.2x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on children under 2? ▼
The West region spends the most at $92/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $70/year on children under 2.
Which age group spends the most on children under 2? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 25–34 age group spend the most on children under 2 at $207/year.
Does household size affect children under 2 spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $6/year on children under 2, while 5 or More households spend $180/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

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.