Reality check: $5,000 baby bonus doesn't go far in San Diego
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As San Diego parents face expensive and limited child care options, new polling suggests cash incentives alone aren't enough to change minds about having kids.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has floated a $5,000 "baby bonus" to boost births, but just 4% of adults on the fence about parenthood nationwide say that would sway them, per a new BabyCenter poll shared with Axios.
The intrigue: 9% of respondents said it would take at least $10,000 to persuade them to have kids, and 30% said it would take more than $25,000.
- Others suggested it would take $500,000 — or even $1 million — to persuade them.
- Nearly 700 votes were cast in the April BabyCenter poll — a live feature enabled for members, most of whom are presumably already parents or expecting.
The big picture: Those lower amounts would be a drop in the bucket in California, one of the most expensive places to raise kids.
- The state is fifth in the U.S. for child-rearing costs, per a recent report, with parents spending $30,059 annually — and nearly $287,000 over 18 years — on essentials like housing, food, clothing and child care.
- On top of that, baby gear prices are soaring under President Trump's tariffs.
Zoom in: Finding, and paying for, reliable child care is a particular hurdle in San Diego, where providers are also operating on thin margins.
- Child care centers cost about $1,850 monthly for infants and $1,200 for preschoolers, but prices vary across the county, according to a report released Thursday by Children First Collective San Diego.
- A local family with two young children spends 40% of their income on child care on average, according to the advocacy group, which has a blueprint for fixing the local crisis.
Between the lines: High child care costs are also driving parents out of the workforce, and working moms can receive a "wage penalty."
- There are physical and mental costs to having kids too.
The bottom line: Paid parental leave and cheaper child care would do more than cash to persuade parents to have babies, several BabyCenter users said.
- A one-time check isn't the long-term support that many would-be parents say they need.