There are calls for the government to set up a hardship fund for struggling parents, as nearly two-thirds of families are going without food, heat or electricity.
A survey by children's charity Barnardos shows more than a quarter of parents surveyed have either cut back or turned off the heat completely, while almost a quarter have gone without electricity.
One in six have cut back or missed medical appointments or medicines, due to rising costs.
Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly says the government must help those most at risk.
"The Government really needs to target its resources on supporting children and parents living in low income families.
"We know form our work on the ground and from independently undertaken research that some families are really struggling to make ends meet at the moment.
"They're cutting back on food or electricity, and they're having to go to Bernardos or the St Vincent de Paul to get some food vouchers in order to make it to the end of the week."
