Washington shop owner says families are now racing to buy top-rated safety items like strollers, car seats — before ‘shockingly high’ tariffs make them out-of-reach for average US families

Tariffs drive up baby gear prices

Mahon sells strollers from the popular brand UPPAbaby, whose products will increase by $150 to $300 each — a big hit to families who are already paying for so many baby items, such as diapers, baby formula and more.

In a public statement, UPPAbaby said it had made “every effort behind the scenes to absorb as much of the cost as possible, but some price increases are unfortunately unavoidable.”

Mahon noticed a worrying sign. “We’ve had a huge uptick in sales — which would normally be good,” Mahon said. “But we know that once prices increase, those sales will drop off.” In other words, the sharp increase is not only bad for new parents, but for business owners catering to this demographic as well.

As with many other common goods, most strollers and car seats sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China. This means they are subject to 145% tariffs that the Trump administration levies on Chinese goods.

In response, China has imposed 125% tariffs on American goods. The tariffs are part of a broader U.S. strategy to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing and address trade imbalances. But for small retailers like Mahon — and the families they serve — the impact has been immediate and costly.

An additional problem: Due to slowed imports and rising costs, empty store shelves could become more common. For families, that could mean life-saving products like car seats and strollers are out of reach.

"If my products become more expensive, then so too do the more affordable options and there are going to be families that are put in the position of using expired car seats or buying secondhand car seats and it’s extremely unsafe because car seats can be in a crash that makes the car seat unusable, unsafe, and it is totally invisible to the naked eye," Mahon said.

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Budgeting for a baby in the era of tariffs

According to CNN, stroller prices have climbed by an average of 25%, while infant car seats have seen a 20% increase.

This means that planning ahead and getting creative can help families stay on budget without compromising safety.

• Buy in phases: Spread out expenses over the first year. Focus on what you’ll need in the early months (like a car seat, bassinet, or feeding gear).

You can pause purchasing items for later developmental stages — like high chairs or walkers — until your baby is ready to use them.

• Consider secondhand options: Websites like GoodBuy Gear and Rebelstork provide secondhand baby items at more affordable prices.

That said, experts caution against purchasing used car seats unless you have documentation to verify its history and expiration date (and even those may be hard to verify).

• Join local parent groups: Whether on social media or elsewhere, many parents organize gear swaps or share gently used baby items at little to no cost — a budget-friendly way to access essentials.

If you have local buy nothing community groups, this may be another avenue to score baby gear for free.

• Track deals: Tools like CamelCamelCamel and Honey can let you know when prices drop online.

• Try group gifting: Ask multiple loved ones to contribute toward a higher cost item such as a stroller or crib during events like baby showers to help offset the cost.

• Start a baby budget: BabyCenter estimates first-year expenses for new parents total around $20,384, with nearly $1,000 going toward essential safety gear alone.

Having a dedicated savings plan can help ease the financial shock. Use budgeting apps to plan for monthly baby-related expenses and set savings goals ahead of your due date.

These tips can help new parents stay financially grounded in a time of rising costs without sacrificing safety or quality.