Cost of raising a child is almost $260,000 in Maryland, third most in U.S., report shows

You’ve heard about putting money away for retirement, but there’s another key financial milestone for many of us. By the time it happens, we’re left with nothing in the bank. It’s having a child, and when that baby arrives, if you haven’t already started setting money aside, you are behind. Raising a child is a marathon, not a sprint, as any parent knows.