Cost of raising a child higher than ever

Raising a family is an expensive endeavor -- and it's more expensive than ever now, according to a wide-ranging United States Department of Agriculture report.

The annual report, Expenditures on Children by Families, finds a middle-income family with a child born in 2010 can expect to spend about $226,920 ($286,860 if projected inflation costs are factored in) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise that child over the next 17 years - a two percent increase from 2009.

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That seems like a lot of money, right? Well, a few important costs aren't even factored in to that amount -- including college expenses!

Check out our "Eye on Parenting" gallery, "Cost of raising a child today," with some of the interesting highlights from the report.