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In a push to reverse declining birthrates that sounds suspiciously like The Handmaid’s Tale, the current presidential administration, backed by advocates including JD Vance and Elon Musk, are promoting policies designed to “help or convince women to have more babies,” according to recent reporting in The New York Times.
It’s no secret that the current administration loves to talk about women, babies and how “great” everything will be for women in the near(?) future. But the reality is that moms and potential moms can’t house, support, feed and educate their families on enthusiasm alone.
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There is big business in “Momopoly.” Having children impacts every aspect of our current and future economy. Credit Karma released an estimate in April based on original projections by the Department of Agriculture, showing that if a family were to have a child in 2025, it would cost $318,949 to raise the child to 18. This means a family would need an additional $18,761 a year of income to raise a child comfortably.
Let’s break down the incentives offered and what moms need to help make this new “baby boom” happen.
A house with a picket fence and good schools
In this economy, finding your dream home is unrealistic for most Americans living paycheck to paycheck, who cannot find sufficient affordable housing.
JP Morgan released its housing outlook in February, and it cited several issues that real estate agents are very familiar with: high interest rates, new construction that has been underbuilt against the demand, not enough multifamily housing options, and fewer people moving because they are “rate locked.”
For kicks and giggles, I used the Living Wage Calculator to estimate the household income that we would need to raise a family of four in our rural suburban town, about 60 minutes outside of Washington, D.C.
Finding a modest three-bedroom, two-bath home is a challenge. Even a small home would likely cost over $300,000. This recently listed home is just over 1,000 square feet and will likely be under contract in days.
To qualify for a conventional mortgage, either one or both working adults would need to have an income of over $100,000 and a hefty down payment.
This means that one or both adults need to be working in middle to manager-level jobs in our area to have the income even to come close to supporting the purchase of this modest home.
I’m a rich girl, but this has gone too far
On average, managers in Winchester, Virginia, make around $124,000, but the reality is that we all cannot be managers. Factor in how much child care is (and the waiting lists) in our area, so we can work to pay the mortgage, or my household would have to make the hard call of who would have to stay home with the kids.
A popular blog called MyKidReports.com estimates that infant child care in my area for five days a week could cost the following:
Full-day rates for infant daycare in Virginia
- For 5 days per week: $1,000-$2,000 per month
- For 3 days per week: the range is $600-$1,200 per month
- For 2 days per week: the range is $400-$800 per month.
Full-day rates for toddler daycare in Virginia
- For 5 half-days: per week $1,000-$1,500 per month
- For 3 half-days: per week $600-$900 per month
- For 2 half-days: per week $400-$600 per month
Full-day rates for preschool in Virginia
- For 5 days per week: $2,000-$3,000 per month
- For 3 days per week: $1,500-$2,250 per month
- For 2 days per week: $1,000-$1,500 per month
Full-day rates for Pre-K in Virginia
- For 5 days per week: $400-$1,000 per month
- For 3 days per week: $240-$600 per month
- For 2 days per week: $160-$400 per month
The incentives being offered
I know many women are asking if there was even a woman in the room when these incentives, developed by the Trump administration to solve America’s slowing birth rates, were being floated around the room before being released to the press.
Incentives like classes on women’s anatomy and natural conception practices, a $5,000 baby bonus, expanding IVF access (which is now in conflict with many states’ current abortion laws) and the potential of earning a medal for having six or more children are not only tone deaf, but essentially useless to American women who are interested in expanding their families.
What the hell are we talking about here?
The March of Dimes currently rates American health care services for baby and maternal health care in the U.S. with a D+ rating. Not only is having a baby costly in terms of health costs associated with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, but the average total is $18,865, and the average out-of-pocket payments total $2,854 for women enrolled in large group plans.
Childbirth is dangerous, and many women have no paid maternity leave to recover from childbirth.
I know many women who would love to have more children, but friends, as I have pointed out before, the math isn’t mathing.
So what incentives would make sense?
This isn’t rocket science; women have been asking for these incentives for decades, but policymakers continuously try to come up with everything but what American families need for success.
- Building and offering affordable housing with tax incentives
- Paid maternity leave
- Affordable health and maternity care services that are safe and based on science
- Affordable childcare
- Flexible work week and remote work options to support busy families
- Affordable before-and-after-school childcare and summer camp options for school-age children
All moms deserve a medal
If you have ever battled the parent drop-off line, been vomited on multiple times, answered the dreaded what’s-for-dinner question, and sat on the sidelines freezing as you watch the kiddo run up and down the field, you deserve a medal.
For working moms, especially those trying to figure out how to get to work on time, have childcare and still be everything to everyone, the mom’s job is not easy, but the rewards are so very special.
Real talk: If America wants more moms, our country needs to make women feel safe, welcome and heard.
We need safe schools so we don’t have nightmares about sending our babies into a mass shooting.
We need affordable housing so we can avoid living in poverty as we try to make ends meet and have enough room to grow.
We need to make adoption more accessible and affordable so the children who are already here in foster care have more opportunities for a better life.
We must treat existing humans better and improve the quality of life here.
More babies? Better policy and programs first. That’s the real incentive that women need.
Rachael Hite is a seasoned housing counselor and thought leader in the real estate industry. Connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
