Middle-income families with babies born last year can expect to spend about $221,000 to raise their little ones over the next 17 years.
This number is according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The report issued each year since 1960 is a valuable resource to courts and state governments in determining child support guidelines and foster care payments.
In 2008, child-rearing expenses for a middle-income, two-parent family ranged from $11,610 to $13,480, depending on the age of the child.
