Expecting a Baby? Soon-to-be Dads Should Prepare for These Costs

By Tara Carter

Congratulations Dad, you’re having a baby!

Planning for a new baby is fun and exciting. However, when it comes to the financial preparations, there’s a lot to consider before you bring your baby home. As you probably know, the expenses can add up fast.

From insurance and baby formula to childcare and diapers, new parents have a lot to take on financially. As you plan and save, here are the average baby costs to budget for, and how to plan ahead. 

To bring these costs down, consider requesting certain items as baby shower gifts, buying them used or asking for hand-me-downs.

Nursery essentials

To furnish your nursery, you’ll need to buy a nursery set or pick up the following individual items:

• Crib
• Mattress
• Changing table
• Glider chair
• Baby monitor

If you buy them new, a nursery set can run anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more. If you want a high-end crib, expect to spend around $3,000 on the crib alone.

Medical expenses

The bill that comes along with delivery can be a real shocker. If you have insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for delivery are likely to total around $3,000.

As far as medical coverage goes, health insurance premiums for your baby can cost around $350 a month, depending on your coverage. If you can’t add the baby to your work-based coverage, you’ll need to purchase a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or buy private insurance.

Nursing and breastfeeding costs

The cost of feeding will differ based on how you choose to feed your baby. 

For those who use baby formula, prices can rise every year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they’ve increased by 126% since 1997. In 2025, you can expect to spend anywhere from $750 to $3,600 on baby formula in the first year, depending on your brand of choice. That breaks down to anywhere from $63 to $300 per month.

For parents who go the breast-feeding route, there are other costs to consider:

• $20-$200: Breastpump (may be covered by your insurance)
• $12-$70: Nursing bra
• $25-$125: Nursing pillow
• $20-$200: High chair

There’s also the time spent breastfeeding, which can impact a parent’s ability to work and earn income. It’s estimated that breastfeeding alone can take a total of around three to four hours per day.

Baby travel essentials

New dads are often shocked by how much gear it takes to get a baby around safely. For example, you can’t even get your baby home from the hospital without a car seat. On average, new car seats cost around $200, but they can also run as high as $500 or more.

To take your baby out and about, you’ll probably want a stroller. On the high end, these can be priced at four figures, but you can also find a budget stroller for less than $150. 

Finally, if you want a brand-new diaper bag to tote around diapers, bottles, toys and more, you’ll likely spend at least $45.

Diapers and clothes

Let’s face it, babies are almost as messy as they are cute. Babies go through mountains of diapers and wipes, and sometimes need as many as four outfit changes a day. 

You can expect to spend at least $70 a month on disposable diapers, around $20 on baby wipes, and you may also need diaper creams or powders. Baby clothes can run you anywhere from $40 to $80 in additional expenses each month, with the cost running higher during growth spurts.

Childcare expenses

One of the biggest baby-related expenses in 2025 is professional childcare. For baby daycare, the cost will vary depending on your location, but it can average more than $343 a week according to Care.com, which is roughly $1,500 per month.

As you can see, all of these expenses will mean big changes for your finances. If you need help updating your budget and finding out how to cover the costs of having a newborn, schedule an appointment to talk to one of our NFCC-certified credit counselors.