The High Cost of Raising Modern Infants

Preparing for a new baby has never offered more choices—or demanded more spending. From smart bassinets and designer nursery products to sleep consultants and night nurses, modern parenting has become a booming industry built around convenience, technology, and peace of mind. In this episode, we explore the rise of the luxury parenting market, examining how changing family demographics, later parenthood, and shrinking support networks have transformed the way parents care for their children. We investigate the influence of social media, targeted advertising, and the growing pressure to buy the "best" products, while asking whether premium price tags truly deliver better outcomes. The story reveals how modern parenting has become both a deeply personal journey and a thriving commercial marketplace, where convenience, status, and anxiety increasingly shape the decisions families make for their youngest members.https://www.economist.com/business/2025/01/30/from-cribs-to-carriers-high-end-baby-products-are-in-vogue