How much does a baby cost in the first year?
Initial gear is only the visible part: the real cost of the first year mostly comes from recurring expenses, month after month.
The unavoidable monthly costs
- Diapers and wipes: €50 to €80 per month
- Formula (if not breastfeeding): €70 to €120 per month
- Childcare: from €0 (stay-at-home parent) to several hundred euros for daycare or a nanny
The occasional expenses to plan for
Clothes, replaced every 2-3 months while baby grows fast, and out-of-pocket health costs (visits, pharmacy) add to the monthly budget in ways that aren't always anticipated.
The real lever: sharing the load
Childcare is by far the most variable and heaviest line item, it's usually where the budget balance actually gets decided, far more than the initial gear. For that gear, the registry and secondhand remain the best levers to lighten the first year.
Three budget scenarios for the year
- Tight budget: one parent providing childcare, gear mostly secondhand or from the registry, roughly €2,500 to €4,000 for the year
- Average budget: shared or part-time childcare, a mix of new and secondhand, roughly €6,000 to €9,000
- Comfortable budget: full-time daycare or a childminder, new gear, €10,000 and up
Don't forget the financial support available
Depending on where you live, family allowances can cover a meaningful share of these costs. In France for example, the CAF pays the PAJE benefit (birth grant, basic allowance) based on income, plus a childcare supplement that offsets daycare or childminder fees. Check what your employer and health insurer offer too, some provide childcare vouchers or a direct contribution.
Before the birth, Kickoala helps you cover a good chunk of the starting gear through your registry, free and shareable with a single link.