New Baby Budget Calculator
Add up the first year with a newborn — one-time gear plus recurring monthly costs like diapers, feeding and childcare.
How it works
Monthly = diapers + feeding + childcare + other · First year = one-time gear + monthly × 12
A newborn’s cost splits into a one-time burst of gear and a steady monthly run-rate. The gear (crib, car seat, stroller) is a headline number, but over a full year the recurring costs usually dwarf it — and childcare, when both parents work, is by far the largest line. Separating the two makes it clear which parts you can trim by buying secondhand and which are unavoidable ongoing commitments.
Worked example
With $1,500 of gear and monthly costs of $80 diapers, $120 feeding, $800 childcare and $100 misc ($1,100/mo), the first year is $1,500 + $13,200 = $14,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest baby expense in the first year?
For working parents, childcare almost always tops the list and can exceed everything else combined. Where a parent stays home, feeding and diapers become the main recurring costs instead.
How can I cut first-year baby costs?
Buy big gear secondhand or accept hand-me-downs, breastfeed if possible to cut formula costs, use cloth or bulk diapers, and compare childcare options including in-home care and family help.
Should I budget beyond the first year?
Yes. Costs shift but don’t disappear — diapers give way to bigger clothes and activities, and childcare often continues until school age. Treat year one as the start of an ongoing line in your budget.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice. Investment returns are not guaranteed.