High cost of raising kids often thwarts dream of being stay-at-home mom

Many first-time parents are stunned when they realize how much it cost to raise kids. Just how expensive is it? A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report says that a middle-income family who had a child last year is expected to spend $221,000 to raise him or her to the age of 17.

It's no wonder that many women who want to stay home to raise their children feel pressured to remain in the workplace. About 63% of children who lived with married parents in 2007 had both parents in the work force, while 56% of kids who lived with two unmarried parents had both in the labor force, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion found that the amount households spend on raising children varies depending upon their income. Two-parent households with two children and before-tax income of less than $56,870 spend an average of $8,330 to $9,450 per child annually. Similar households with income between $56,870 and $98,470 spend an average of $11,610 to $13,480 per child, and those with incomes above $98,470 average $19,250 to $22,960 per child.