How Much Does It Cost To Raise Your Newborn Baby In The First Year

In a previous article, we highlighted the expenses that parents can expect to incur during pregnancy. Depending on the hospital you go to, you may spend anywhere between under $5,000 (class B2 ward, normal delivery) as much as $22,000 (private hospital, caesarean) from pregnancy to delivery.

Once your baby is born, the cost you incur continues on. In this article, we will explore how much parents can expect to spend on caring for their little ones in the first year.

Do note that while our estimates are conservative, it’s still possible for you to spend less if you don’t require everything that we have listed or are able to source for cheaper alternatives.

Read Also: Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) In Singapore: Current Entitlements & What Will Change Under The New Scheme

1. The Consumables

We define “consumables” as things your baby will frequently need, making it a recurring cost for parents.

Diapers:

Six to eight diapers a day…every day. Not only would you become an expert in changing diapers, you will become familiar with the various brands and how much each diaper costs.

In the table below, we have listed some common brands. It’s not an exhaustive list and there are many more brands you can choose from. There are also variations of diapers even within the same brand. Prices are before any discounts or promotions.

*Medium-sized diapers were used for comparison.

While it’s possible to find cheaper diapers, you should be mentally prepared to pay between $0.42 and $0.53 per diaper, instead of expecting that you can surely find cheaper alternatives. If your baby uses about seven diapers a day, this can add up to $90 to $115 each month.

How You Can Save:

One simple way to save money is to buy in bulk. Brands tend to offer discounts if you buy more at a time. For example, Huggies sells two packets of newborn diapers for $48, instead of $53.10.

Formula Milk:

For the first six months, breastfeeding is encouraged. If mothers are able to completely breastfeed their babies, they will be able to save some money by not having to buy Stage 1 formula milk.

After six months, some parents may opt for Stage 2 formula milk. You can expect your baby to consume about three 900g tins per month. Here is a non-exhaustive price list of popular formula milk in Singapore.

Source: NTUC FairPrice

Depending on the brands you choose, you can expect to spend $93 to $240 per month.

It’s worth noting that not all babies will be able to breastfeed, and hence, your cost will be higher if you need to purchase Stage 1 formula milk for your baby.

How You Can Save:

There is a common misconception among some parents that paying for more expensive formula milk equates into getting higher quality products. This is not true.

The Ministry Of Health has debunked this myth in a press release statement in 2017, where they had explicitly made it clear that “all infant formula sold in Singapore, regardless of price, meets Singapore’s food regulations and the nutritional needs of healthy infants.”

 Source: Health Promotion Board – (2017) Milk Powder Singapore Comparison

It also added that while “some infant formula companies claim that their particular brands of milk powder can do more. The scientific evidence for this is weak.”

Whether it’s an expensive tin of formula milk powder or an affordable alternative, the fact is simple; all formula milk sold in Singapore is good enough.

You can opt for more affordable brands such as FairPrice Gold that would provide all the nutrients your little one will need at a much lower cost. This could easily save you over $100 a month.

Other Consumables:

They are other consumables you will need to buy. Here is a non-exhaustive list to prepare for.

Here’s the breakdown of what you can expect to spend on consumables in your first year.

* Calculation assumes baby is breastfed for first 6 months

2. Non-Consumables

Our definition of “non-consumables” are products that you only have to purchase once. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of items you likely need to buy.

It’s hard to accurately estimate how much parents need to spend. Parents who buy more toys and clothes will naturally expect to spend more. Some parents will also receive some of these items as gifts and can save a little.

Nevertheless, it’s prudent to budget for these items, rather than to be surprised by their costs later on.

How You Can Save:

You can save money on many non-consumables by opting for pre-owned items that are in good working condition. These include prams, car seats and baby carriers.

For some items such as clothes, there is no need to buy too many brand new. Babies will quickly outgrow them within weeks so your little one may end up wearing them just once or twice.

Instead, parents can rely on hand-me-downs from other family members and friends. Many parents don’t mind giving away items that their babies have outgrown, so this is one way parents can help one another save money.

3. Medical Cost

During the first few months, you may visit a pediatrician to ensure that your baby is growing healthily. These visits are usually scheduled at growth milestones such as 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month. If you opt for a private pediatrician, you can expect to pay around $130 – $280 per visit.

Your baby will also need to take the mandatory vaccinations. If you opt to have your baby’s vaccination done with the pediatrician, you will need to pay for it. Certain clinics may offer Baby packages that are structured around the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) depending on their developmental milestones. In total, you could expect to pay between $2,000 and $2,500 on these mandatory vaccinations for the child’s first year.

Read Also: Here’s How Much The Government Spends On Each Singaporean Child Until They Enter The Working World

How You Can Save: Use Polyclinics Instead

If you are a first-time parent, you will be happy to know that all mandatory vaccinations for babies are free at polyclinics. You will only be charged for doctor consultations (when required), medicine prescribed, or any optional vaccinations. You can use your child’s CDA or Medisave account to pay for the optional vaccinations.

Read Also: Cost Guide To Popular Vaccinations In Singapore

4. Infant Care Arrangement

You will need to make infant care arrangements once the 4-month maternity leave is over. Depending on the arrangement you make, the cost may vary. Here’s a breakdown of some common options.

This cost is an estimate at best and you can read up more about how we calculated them in this article that we’ve previously written.

Read Also: Complete Guide To Childcare Operator Fees In Singapore

How Much Should You Expect To Spend In Your First Year?

While each of these cost areas may look manageable on its own, they can add up to a hefty price-tag.

* Calculation assumes baby is breastfeed for first 6 months

** Calculation assumes that parents do not rely on hand-me-downs or pre-owned items

Spending More DOES NOT Equate into Providing Better Quality Care

There is always a perception that spending more means giving your baby the best. This is not true.

An example is babies’ vaccinations. Whether your baby gets his/her jabs at the polyclinic (for free) or at the private clinic (at a much higher cost), the vaccinations they receive are the same. It’s not like paying more gets you something better.

Similarly, when it comes to formula milk powder, spending more on a “premium” brand doesn’t equate into getting higher quality milk.

As for infant care arrangement, spending more to hire a full-time nanny does not mean your baby will be taken care off in a better way than sending him/her to an infant care centre, or for them to be taken care of by their able-bodied grandparents. Many times, it simply depends on the comfort level and requirements that parents have with each type of arrangement.

Giving Your Child “A Good Start”

One easy way to ensure that you are comfortable with whatever you give your baby is to let them try something first. Make sure that you yourself are comfortable with the cost in the long term as well, as it’s not always easy for babies to make changes once they get used to something.

For example, you can try out in small quantities first by using formula milk samples, which many brands are happy to give out. The same can also apply to infant care arrangements and enrichment classes they go for.

Based on our estimates, it can cost parents between $8,650 and $13,630 to a raise a baby in their first year. This assumes that the baby is breastfed for the first six months and parents use more affordable care options such as polyclinics for vaccinations and subsidised infant care.

While raising a child can be expensive, you don’t necessarily need to spend the most to give your child good care. Whether it’s infant formula milk, medical care, or baby essentials, spending more does not always equate to better quality.

At the end of the day, you should make informed decisions based on your baby’s needs and our household budget, rather than feel pressured to choose premium products or services. A good start comes from thoughtful planning and suitable care, not higher spending.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Raise A Child In Singapore Till Age 18?

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