Baby's first year: a realistic budget

Before you start: costs vary enormously

A first year with a baby can cost very different amounts depending on your city, whether you choose a government or private hospital, your insurance, whether you breastfeed or use formula, and whether you need paid childcare. The ranges below are rough guides for planning, not quotes — ask your hospital, insurer and paediatrician for real numbers.

Before and at birth

• --Antenatal care — consultations, scans and tests across the pregnancy.
• --Delivery — the biggest single cost. Private hospital packages vary widely by city and by normal or caesarean delivery; government hospitals cost far less. Check exactly what your package includes.
• --Insurance — many policies cover maternity only after a waiting period, and employer policies often have a maternity limit. Find out your cover early.

The first-year essentials

• --Vaccinations — the core schedule is available free at government centres; optional vaccines at private clinics can add a meaningful amount over the year. Ask your paediatrician for the full schedule and costs.
• --Paediatrician visits — regular check-ups in the first year, plus the occasional fever.
• --Diapers — often ₹1,500–3,500 a month with disposables; cloth diapers cost more up front and less over time.
• --Feeding — formula, if you use it, can add a few thousand rupees a month; later come solid foods.
• --Clothes — babies outgrow them every few months. Hand-me-downs help hugely.
• --Gear — car seat, pram or stroller, cot, baby carrier, bath and feeding items. Buy the safety items new; much of the rest can be borrowed or bought second-hand.
• --Help and childcare — a nanny, a japa (postnatal) maid, or daycare once a parent returns to work. For many families this is the biggest ongoing cost.

How to plan the budget

• --Separate one-off from monthly. Delivery and gear are one-off; diapers, feeding, help and doctor visits repeat every month.
• --Save the one-off amount before the due date, in a dedicated sinking fund.
• --Plan for a smaller income if one parent takes extended leave — run your monthly budget on the reduced income before the baby arrives.
• --Top up your emergency fund — a new baby is exactly when you don't want a surprise to become debt (how much you need).
• --Track the first three months closely. You'll quickly see your real monthly baby cost and can adjust from there.

What you can skip or borrow

Wipe warmers, special baby laundry detergent, most “newborn” gadgets, and a large wardrobe of tiny clothes. Ask family and friends for hand-me-downs — most baby things are used for only a few months.

Frequently asked questions