Baby Cost Calculator
Estimate what a baby's first year will actually cost by adding up diapers, formula, childcare, gear, and the rest.
Every family spends differently — breastfeeding zeroes out formula, and daycare is the single biggest swing. Adjust each line to match your plans and the total updates instantly.
How it works
The first year adds up in a hundred small ways, so this tool lets you itemize the big ones — diapers, feeding, childcare, clothing, gear, and health costs — instead of guessing at one lump sum.
Childcare is usually the line that dwarfs everything else, so it is worth entering a real local number rather than a placeholder. Formula feeding also costs far more than breastfeeding over a year.
The totals update as you type and break down into a monthly figure, which is often the more useful number for planning a budget you actually have to live with.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest baby expense?
For most families it is childcare, which can rival rent in many cities. If a parent stays home, that cost disappears but so does an income — worth weighing both.
How much do diapers and formula cost in year one?
Diapers commonly run a few hundred to over a thousand dollars a year, and formula feeding can add well over a thousand more. Breastfeeding cuts the formula line sharply.
Are these numbers one-time or recurring?
It is a mix. Gear like a crib or stroller is one-time, while diapers, formula, and childcare recur every month. The tool folds both into a yearly and monthly view.