micdotcom:

It costs $233,610 to raise a child — before college

• To arrive at the $233,610 figure, the Department of Agricultures looks at not only how much parents spend, but what they’re actually spending on: everything from housing and food to childcare costs and presents.
  
• And over the last 55 years, some of these costs — like food and clothing  — have fallen considerably. Other costs have gone up.
  
• Childcare costs, have risen from 2% of overall expenditures to a robust 16%. Read more