New Baby Budget Checklist
A baby budget is easier to build when you separate one-time setup purchases from monthly costs. Use this checklist to plan the most common expenses before and after baby arrives.
Start with your biggest unknowns: childcare, healthcare, feeding, and diapers. Then use the Baby First-Year Cost Calculator to turn your checklist into a first-year estimate.
Monthly baby costs
- Diapers and wipes: include diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and changing supplies.
- Feeding: include formula, nursing supplies, bottles, pump parts, baby food, and snacks.
- Childcare: include daycare, nanny care, part-time care, or backup care.
- Healthcare: include insurance changes, copays, medicine, and basic health supplies.
- Household supplies: include laundry, cleaning, bath items, and small replacements.
One-time baby setup costs
- Car seat: one of the most important purchases to plan early.
- Sleep space: crib, bassinet, mattress, sheets, and safe sleep basics.
- Stroller or carrier: choose what fits your daily routine and budget.
- Nursery basics: storage, changing area, monitor, and lighting.
- Clothes: plan for sizes changing quickly during the first year.
Costs people often forget
- Extra meals, delivery, or convenience items during the newborn stage.
- Parking, transportation, or time off for appointments.
- Replacement bottle parts, pacifiers, sheets, and seasonal clothing.
- Photos, classes, books, toys, and family visits.
- A small emergency cushion for unexpected baby expenses.
How to use this checklist
Write down what you already have, what you can borrow, and what you need to buy. Then price the remaining items and enter the monthly and one-time amounts into the calculator. Updating your estimate with real local prices will make your baby budget much more useful.