How Much Does a Baby Cost Per Month in the First Year?

A new baby adds so much joy—and, unfortunately, so many expenses. During her baby’s first year, Briana, a mom of two in Texas, spent “somewhere between $10,000 and $18,000,” she recalls.

The number-one thing to do if you want to plan and save is to create a budget, suggests Stacey Black, lead financial educator at BECU. Break your document down into one-time costs (like a stroller and car seat), recurring costs (diapers and formula), and occasional costs (toys).

Of course, everyone’s budget is completely individual. But—give or take—how much does a baby cost per month, and which are the non-negotiable spends? Below, a sense of what to expect financially during baby’s first year, according to experts.

How Much Can You Expect to Spend in Baby’s First Year?

Most families spend between $12,000 and $24,000 during baby’s first year, not including childcare, says Ashley Akin, CPA, a tax consultant in New York City. The total varies depending on where you live, your lifestyle and your health insurance. According to an Instagram poll on @TheBump, 18 percent of our readers spent over $20,000, 16 percent spent between $15,000 and $20,000, and 30 percent spent between $10,000 and $15,000. However, a full 36 percent spent under $10,000.

Cost of Childbirth

Yup, you’ll be paying your hospital bills for baby’s birth during baby’s first year. Childbirth is a serious expense: On average, you’ll pay around $18,000 to $51,000 without insurance and $2,800 to $4,500 if you have insurance.

Cost of Healthcare for Baby

With insurance, well-baby visits and vaccines are typically covered, but you might still be responsible for copays, deductibles and out-of-network charges, says David Kindness, CPA, a tax expert and personal finance writer at BestMoney. Without insurance, you could easily pay at least $5,000 for baby’s healthcare in the first year, says Akin.

“For us, insurance covered most checkups, but anything ‘extra,’ like one ER visit for a bad rash, ran us $350 out of pocket, with deductible math,” says Briana. These out-of-pocket expenses can total $500 to $1,000 during the first year, estimates Akin. Also, keep in mind that adding baby to your insurance can increase your monthly premium by $200 to $400—for Briana, the difference was $180.

To save money, Andrew Lokenauth, founder of the TheFinanceNewsletter.com, recommends switching to a lower-deductible plan before baby’s born—a step that saved one of his clients $3,000. Also investigate whether your (or your partner’s) employer offers a Flexible Savings Account (FSA), which allows you to use pre-tax dollars for baby’s healthcare expenses, reducing your taxable income.

Cost of Baby Gear

“Gear was probably the one [category] that hit like a truck,” shares Briana. Expect to spend $2,000 to $3,000 total, says Jonathan Carroll, a father of two in North Carolina and founder of family apparel company Hammer & Rattle. Here’s an idea of the price ranges for several key items:

• Crib: $100 to $600
• Car seat: $80 to $400
• Stroller: $100 to $1,000
• High chair: $50 to $300

Briana says she spent $360 on a stroller, $280 on a car seat, $220 on a crib, $170 on a bassinet, $160 on a baby carrier, $130 on a high chair, $120 on a baby monitor and $40 on a sound machine. “Seriously, I could go on!” she adds.

Tips to save on gear

To save on baby gear, it’s a good idea to set up a baby registry so you can benefit from stores’ completion discounts. Purchase items that will grow with baby, like a convertible crib and adjustable stroller. Otherwise, try to borrow used gear or find it for free on sites like Buy Nothing, Facebook Marketplace and local parenting and swap groups. But don’t get everything secondhand. Avoid used car seats, cribs and bassinets (unless they’re certified rentals), advises Lokenauth. “It’s hard to discover damage, or they could be installed wrong. It’s also difficult to identify a recall if you didn’t purchase it yourself. I always tell clients to buy the car seat new, but get the stroller secondhand.” To avoid bringing bedbugs home, stay away from pre-owned crib mattresses and upholstered furniture.

Cost of Diapers Per Month

With disposable diapers, you’ll likely spend an average of $70 to $100 a month, or $840 to $1,200 a year, says Lokenauth. Cloth diapers cost around $300 to $500 upfront, but can save you money in the long run, says Zohaib Sunesara, a certified parenting coach, co-founder of the Cuddle Pixie parenting platform, and father of one in Texas. Budget another $15 to $20 a month for wipes, reminds Kindness.

Tips to save on diapers

If you feel like you’re always out of diapers, you’re not alone. It pays to investigate retailer rewards programs and diaper manufacturer coupons. “Bulk boxes helped and store brands like Target’s Up & Up saved us at least $20 per box,” shares Briana. Lokenauth tells his clients to sign up for Amazon Subscribe & Save to reduce costs by about 20 percent. You can also invest in a Costco membership, says Carroll. Costco offers free delivery of diapers and wipes to most of the US, plus budget-friendly Kirkland-brand diapers. Sarah, a mom of one in Texas, says she spends $35 to $40 each month on Kirkland or Huggies diapers she purchases in bulk.

Just don’t stock up on newborn sizes, cautions Lokenauth. “My sister made this mistake, and her baby outgrew those diapers in two weeks,” he says. Try to skew one diaper size up so they’ll last longer.

Cost to Feed Baby Per Month

Feeding baby can be expensive, especially if you use formula and once they start solids. Here’s how much you can expect to spend on feeding your little one, depending on which method you choose.

Breastfeeding expenses overall and by month

Breast milk is free (hurray!), but breastfeeding supplies can add up. A breast pump is the biggest expense at around $250 to $400, says Sarah—but, fortunately, insurance often covers this expense. A nursing pillow runs about $30 to $90. Altogether, including milk storage bags, nursing bras, bottles and nipple cream, you might spend around $15 to $50 per month, for a yearly total of $200 to $500, says Carroll.

Formula expense per month

You can budget anywhere from $25 to $300 a month on formula, depending on baby’s intake, whether you’re combo feeding and the formula brand.

Baby food expense per month

At 6 months old, baby will likely experience solid foods for the first time. Both homemade purees and baby-led weaning can cost about $30 to $80 per month, says Akin. Prepared food is pricier, at $50 to $150.

Tips to save on feeding

Your employee benefits, like insurance and an FSA, might help with breastfeeding supplies. For formula, ask your pediatrician for samples and investigate store loyalty program discounts. Powdered formula is typically cheaper than premixed, says Sarah. “A tub of Similac lasted me roughly a month when I combo-fed, and cost about $40,” she says. With solid food, DIYing can help. “We made over 40 servings of chickpea puree for less than $2, a huge savings over pouches and jars that could easily have cost more than $3 per serving,” says Carroll. You can also look into store-brand formulas at retailers such as Costco or Target.

Cost of Baby Clothes per Month

Babies grow out of clothes sizes so fast! Budget $50 per month or $600 per year for your little one’s outfits, advises Kindness. (Although you can certainly spend less if you use hand-me-downs or shop used clothes.) Since babies grow several sizes their first year, splurging on any one outfit probably isn’t worth it—sorry, adorable mini-me outfits.

Tips to save on baby clothes

Look into pajamas and other items that have flexible sizing—they grow with baby which means more bang for your buck. Also, you can cut costs by shopping at consignment shops. You can also buy less and do more laundry! Sarah bought three or four outfits in each size, spending roughly $10 to $20 each month, or $120 to $240 during her baby’s first year. Hand-me-downs from friends and family are also a great budget-friendly move!

Cost of Childcare per Month

Childcare is usually the largest expense for baby. Daycare centers tend to range between $1,000 to $2,500 per month and nannies typically cost $2,000 to $4,000 or even more, says Akin. Remember to factor in lost income if you or your partner is staying home with baby without paid leave, or leaving their job in order to take care of baby (although that can save on childcare—it’s complicated!).

Tips to save on childcare costs

Try cobbling together different approaches, like part-time daycare, help from a grandparent and a reduced work schedule. A properly vetted in-home daycare, a nanny share with another family or an au pair can be more affordable options. As with healthcare and breastfeeding, an FSA and other employee benefits might help.

Other Expenses

When it comes to expenses like baby books, toys and other miscellaneous items that will inevitably pop up, hand-me-downs from other parents are an excellent bet. Since babies develop so fast, you’re always likely to find someone who’d love to unload a few rattles, crinkly books and more.

You can also head to your local library, suggests Carroll. “It’s a treasure trove of free books and a great way to keep storytime fresh,” he says. Little Free Library book boxes are another fun way to find new baby books. Rotate what you already have and organize swaps with local parents. When at the store, “focus on a few versatile, open-ended toys that grow with your child rather than trendy one-hit wonders,” Carroll adds. Finally, everyday items, like an unopened bag of frozen peas, might actually end up being your baby’s favorite “toys.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.