diff --git a/src/app/(app)/family/page.tsx b/src/app/(app)/family/page.tsx
index eade0ce..009220c 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/family/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/family/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { useFamily } from "@/app/FamilyProvider";
+import { ChildLimitBanner } from "@/components/StorageMeter";
 
 interface Child {
   id: string;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export default function FamilyPage() {
   const [newName, setNewName] = useState("");
   const [newDob, setNewDob] = useState("");
   const [newSex, setNewSex] = useState("male");
+  const [childLimit, setChildLimit] = useState<{ currentCount: number; limit: number } | null>(null);
 
   // Load children from FamilyProvider or fetch
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -35,6 +37,18 @@ export default function FamilyPage() {
     }
   }, [childrenFromProvider, familyId]);
 
+  // Sync limit state whenever children list changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!familyId) return;
+    fetch("/api/family")
+      .then(r => r.json())
+      .then(d => {
+        const maxChildren = d.family?.max_children ?? 1;
+        setChildLimit({ currentCount: children.length, limit: maxChildren });
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+  }, [familyId, children.length]);
+
   const fetchOwnChildren = async () => {
     if (!familyId) return;
     try {
@@ -85,12 +99,19 @@ export default function FamilyPage() {
         setShowAdd(false);
         setNewName("");
         setNewDob("");
+      } else if (data.reason === "child_limit_reached") {
+        setShowAdd(false);
+        setChildLimit({ currentCount: data.currentCount, limit: data.limit });
+      } else {
+        alert(data.error);
       }
     } catch (err) {
       console.error("Failed to add:", err);
     }
   };
 
+  const atChildLimit = childLimit !== null && childLimit.currentCount >= childLimit.limit;
+
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-gradient-to-br from-rose-50 to-amber-50 dark:from-gray-900 dark:to-gray-800">
       <div className="p-4 flex items-center gap-4">
@@ -99,8 +120,13 @@ export default function FamilyPage() {
       </div>
 
       <div className="px-4 space-y-4">
+        {/* Child limit banner */}
+        {atChildLimit && childLimit && (
+          <ChildLimitBanner currentCount={childLimit.currentCount} limit={childLimit.limit} />
+        )}
+
         {/* Add Child Form */}
-        {showAdd && (
+        {showAdd && !atChildLimit && (
           <div className="p-4 bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-xl space-y-3">
             <input
               type="text"
@@ -200,7 +226,7 @@ export default function FamilyPage() {
         )}
 
         {/* Add Button */}
-        {!showAdd && children.length > 0 && (
+        {!showAdd && children.length > 0 && !atChildLimit && (
           <button
             onClick={() => setShowAdd(true)}
             className="w-full p-4 border-2 border-dashed border-gray-300 rounded-xl text-gray-500"
diff --git a/src/app/api/children/route.ts b/src/app/api/children/route.ts
index bcb29d6..ca20b54 100644
--- a/src/app/api/children/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/children/route.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import { sql } from "@/db";
 import { validateSession, requireFamily } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { checkChildLimit } from "@/lib/quota";
 
 // GET - list children (family only)
 export async function GET(request: Request) {
@@ -39,6 +40,14 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
       return NextResponse.json({ error: "Missing required fields" }, { status: 400 });
     }
 
+    const limitCheck = await checkChildLimit(familyId);
+    if (!limitCheck.allowed) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: limitCheck.message, reason: limitCheck.reason, currentCount: limitCheck.currentCount, limit: limitCheck.limit },
+        { status: 403 }
+      );
+    }
+
     const [child] = await sql.unsafe(
       `INSERT INTO children (family_id, name, birth_date, sex, stage) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, 'newborn') RETURNING id, name, birth_date as "birthDate", sex, stage`,
       [familyId, name, birthDate, sex]
diff --git a/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx b/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
index b16bb3e..84933a0 100644
--- a/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
+++ b/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
@@ -128,6 +128,32 @@ export function StorageQuotaBanner({
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Banner for the child limit (shown when adding a second baby is blocked).
+ */
+export function ChildLimitBanner({
+  currentCount,
+  limit,
+}: {
+  currentCount: number;
+  limit: number;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="rounded-xl border border-amber-200 bg-amber-50 dark:bg-amber-900/20 dark:border-amber-800 p-4 space-y-1">
+      <p className="text-sm font-semibold text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300">Baby limit reached</p>
+      <p className="text-sm text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400">
+        Your free plan supports {limit} baby profile. You already have {currentCount}. Upgrade to track multiple children.
+      </p>
+      <a
+        href="/settings#upgrade"
+        className="inline-block mt-2 text-sm font-medium text-rose-600 dark:text-rose-400 underline"
+      >
+        Upgrade to add more →
+      </a>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Banner for the member limit (shown when invite is blocked).
  */
diff --git a/src/lib/quota.ts b/src/lib/quota.ts
index 60e56bd..0f6399d 100644
--- a/src/lib/quota.ts
+++ b/src/lib/quota.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,55 @@ export async function reconcileActualSize(
   return { keep: true };
 }
 
+// ─── Child limit ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export type ChildLimitResult =
+  | { allowed: true;  currentCount: number; limit: number }
+  | {
+      allowed: false;
+      reason: "child_limit_reached";
+      currentCount: number;
+      limit: number;
+      message: string;
+    };
+
+/**
+ * Child limit gate — called at child creation.
+ * Free families are limited to max_children (default 1).
+ * Paid families: always allowed.
+ */
+export async function checkChildLimit(familyId: string): Promise<ChildLimitResult> {
+  const [row] = await sql<{ count: string; max_children: number | null; tier: string | null }[]>`
+    SELECT
+      COUNT(c.id)::text AS count,
+      f.max_children,
+      f.tier
+    FROM families f
+    LEFT JOIN children c ON c.family_id = f.id
+    WHERE f.id = ${familyId}
+    GROUP BY f.id
+  `;
+
+  if (!row) return { allowed: false, reason: "child_limit_reached", currentCount: 0, limit: 1, message: "Family not found." };
+
+  const currentCount = Number(row.count);
+  const limit = row.max_children ?? 1;
+
+  if (isPaidFamily(row.tier)) return { allowed: true, currentCount, limit };
+
+  if (currentCount >= limit) {
+    return {
+      allowed: false,
+      reason: "child_limit_reached",
+      currentCount,
+      limit,
+      message: `Your free plan supports ${limit} baby profile. Upgrade to track multiple children.`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  return { allowed: true, currentCount, limit };
+}
+
 /**
  * Member limit gate — called at invite creation (not acceptance).
  * COUNT(family_members) is the source of truth; no separate counter.