A sneaky attempt to save on childcare outlays could pit American parents against one another
But the cost of raising kids is growing. According to a 2025 Lending Tree survey of parents with young children, 46% said they have fewer kids than they would like due to financial constraints. Meanwhile, childcare costs in the US have risen by a third over the last 15 years. And according to the US Census, there are 10.9 million one-parent households in the country, of which 80% are led by women.
