Opinion— Being a Mother of Color Makes Obtaining Affordable Child Care That Much Harder
By sharing the real challenges families face, I hope to shine a light on the urgent need for stronger parental support policies
By Alyssa Reynoso Morris, originally published on HipLatina. May 22, 2025.
Credit: Alyssa Reynoso Morris
As a Queer Black Latine award-winning children’s book author, public speaker, community organizer, and mother, I’ve spent my career advocating for equity, especially for Black, Brown, and immigrant families. I’m also a proud mother of three—an energetic five-year-old and, recently, twin infants—which has brought immense joy and an up-close view of the systemic barriers families like mine face.
Raising three young children has shown me how financially overwhelming parenting in America can be. I’ve felt the pressure too many parents, especially mothers of color, carry every day. Child care in the U.S. is outrageously expensive: $16,000 a year per child. For me, it’s $4,200 a month or $50,400 a year. Who can afford that?! And why is child care so unaffordable in the first place?
This is a deep dive into how systemic inequities intersect with the child care crisis, why costs are so high, and what we can do to demand a more equitable future. By sharing the real challenges families face, I hope to shine a light on the urgent need for stronger parental support policies and inspire more parents to speak up and demand the change we all deserve.
Child Care in the USA Is Too Expensive
Did you know that child care costs an average of $1600 a month ($16,000 a year) per child in the USA? The United States ranks among the most expensive countries for child care within the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). In 2023, the median household income for Hispanic families was $65,540, much lower than the $89,050 median for non-Hispanic White households. That means $16,000 a year for child care is nearly 24% of a Hispanic household’s income and even more for families with multiple young children.
These stats resonate with me. After having my first daughter, I stayed home for a year and a half to bond with her, but also because I was making $45,000, and child care costs $15,600 a year, or 37% of my income. I loved my job in nonprofit workforce development, but after taxes and child care, I’d keep less than 50% of my pay. So we decided I’d freelance during naps, nights, and weekends to supplement our income.
When my daughter was 18 months old, I returned to work as Chief of Staff for my local state rep, earning $52,000. By then, daycare costs had dropped to $1,000 a month, so I took the job. But I still envied my friends in Europe and Canada who pay just $200 a month for child care.
How Does Expensive Child Care in the USA Disproportionately Affect BIPOC Families?
Child care in the U.S. is expensive for everyone, but it’s especially devastating for Black, Latine, and Indigenous families. A Black family with an infant and a preschooler can spend up to 42% of their income on child care. For Latine and Native families, it’s nearly 35–39% just to access care that allows them to work.
As a Black Latina, I can attest to this. My partner and I wanted one more child but delayed for five years because we couldn’t afford it. We hoped our eldest would be in school by then. Child care for one child is 34% of my income; for twins, it’s 67%. How am I supposed to pay for food, utilities, and a mortgage with that kind of expense?
When we learned I was having spontaneous identical girl twins, we were surprised and anxious. While others said things like “Double the blessing,” I was worried. Twins meant a double stroller, two car seats, a bigger car, double the diapers, formula, clothes—everything. My joy felt stolen by financial fear.
Child care alone would cost us $40,000 a year, 67% of my income. We’ve been overwhelmed, constantly stressed about how to support our twins. I love being a mother, but the financial strain is constant.
We live paycheck to paycheck, prioritizing food, housing, and essentials. I haven’t had a manicure in over a year, go to the salon three times a year, and shop at thrift stores like “Once Upon A Child” to keep up with our growing kids. We cook all our meals and vacuum-seal food to make it last. Every dollar is tracked.
These soaring child care costs have real consequences: reduced workforce participation, especially among women, and increased financial strain on families.
What Can We Do To Change This?
My story reflects a larger crisis in America, one that demands urgent change. How can we raise the next generation when the system makes parenting financially unsustainable? Addressing this requires real policy reform and increased public investment in child care. But hope is not lost. We need coordinated efforts across communities, workplaces, and government.
What can help Latina moms and moms of color? First, we must hold our elected officials accountable. Ask your representatives where they stand on affordable child care. Do they support expanding access and lowering costs? If not, call them. Email them. Share your story. And if they still refuse to act, vote them out. Support leaders and ballot initiatives that prioritize child welfare, gender equity, and economic justice. Our votes and our voices matter, especially when used together.
We also need real investment. A greater portion of our GDP must go toward affordable child care. This is not just a personal issue, it is national infrastructure. Eligibility for child care subsidies should reflect the real cost of living, not outdated income brackets that exclude working families. States should expand Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG) and invest in universal pre-K so that all children, no matter their zip code, have access to early learning.
Finally, use your voice. Share your story in the media and online. Advocate for a world where child care is treated as essential, not a luxury. Support and uplift the artists, educators, and storytellers already showing us what is possible when families are supported and children are prioritized.