Preparing for a baby involves a burst of one-off purchases. Choosing which items to buy new, which to borrow and which to buy second-hand (never a used car seat of unknown history) can halve the cost. Ongoing costs like nappies, formula and childcare come on top.
How to use the Cost of Having a Baby Calculator
- Babies
- Crib / cot
- Mattress
- Stroller / pram
- Car seat
- Changing table
- Baby monitor
- Bottles and feeding set
- Breast pump
- High chair
- Bathtub and toiletries
- Clothes (first year)
- Carrier / sling
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the price you expect to pay for each item (set to 0 if you already have it or won’t buy it) and choose one baby or twins.
Tips
- Use the figures printed on your product or its manual when you have them.
- Round quantities up so you are never short.
- Measure twice before you buy anything cut to size.
- Everything runs in your browser – try different values to compare options.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing units (inches and centimetres, mAh and Ah).
- Ignoring efficiency losses and safety margins.
- Treating rules of thumb as exact.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Babies | Choose one: One baby, Twins |
| Crib / cot | Amount in your currency |
| Mattress | Amount in your currency |
| Stroller / pram | Amount in your currency |
| Car seat | Amount in your currency |
| Changing table | Amount in your currency |
| Baby monitor | Amount in your currency |
| Bottles and feeding set | Amount in your currency |
| Breast pump | Amount in your currency |
| High chair | Amount in your currency |
| Bathtub and toiletries | Amount in your currency |
| Clothes (first year) | Amount in your currency |
| Carrier / sling | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Items bought once (furniture, monitor, pump…) = [Crib ÷ cot] + [Mattress] + [Changing table] + [Baby monitor] + [Breast pump]
- Items needed per baby = [Stroller ÷ pram] + [Car seat] + [Bottles and feeding set] + [High chair] + [Bathtub and toiletries] + [Clothes (first year)] + [Carrier ÷ sling]
- Total one-off cost = [Items bought once (furniture, monitor, pump…)] + [Items needed per baby]×[Babies] + ([Babies] – 1)×([Crib ÷ cot] + [Mattress])
Example values
How the main result changes when Crib / cot changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Crib / cot | Total one-off cost |
|---|---|
| 125 | 2,235 |
| 187.5 | 2,297.5 |
| 250 | 2,360 |
| 312.5 | 2,422.5 |
| 375 | 2,485 |
| 500 | 2,610 |
Formula
Total = Σ item prices (twins double items marked per baby)Worked example
Inputs — Babies: One baby; Crib / cot: $250; Mattress: $120; Stroller / pram: $400; Car seat: $250; Changing table: $150; Baby monitor: $100; Bottles and feeding set: $80; Breast pump: $200; High chair: $150; Bathtub and toiletries: $60; Clothes (first year): $500; Carrier / sling: $100.
Results — Items bought once (furniture, monitor, pump…) = $820.00; Items needed per baby = $1,540.00; Total one-off cost = $2,360.00.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to prepare for a baby?
Commonly $1,500–$3,000 for nursery items, travel gear and clothes, before ongoing costs.
What can I buy second-hand?
Clothes, cots (if they meet current standards), changing tables and toys; buy car seats new.
What are the biggest ongoing costs?
Childcare, nappies and formula or food.
What formula does the Cost of Having a Baby Calculator use?
Total = Σ item prices (twins double items marked per baby).