What the first year with a baby costs: what to budget before the birth
The first year brings two kinds of costs: monthly (nappies, food, clothes, health) and one-off (cot, pram, car seat). In this article’s example the monthly total is 1,650 lei and the whole year reaches 25,800 lei. Prepare the budget during pregnancy and set aside a reserve.
Contents
Which costs appear in the first year?
Costs fall into two groups, and the one-off ones are those that surprise people most.
- Monthly: nappies, food (formula or first solids), clothes, health and care products.
- One-off: cot, pram, car seat, high chair, bath equipment.
- Occasional: vaccinations and consultations that are not covered, toys, photos.
- Indirect: the income that drops during parental leave.
What does an example look like?
The figures are illustrative and differ a lot between families. Use them as a structure, not as a promise.
| Cost | Per month | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Nappies and hygiene | 600 lei | 7,200 lei |
| Food | 500 lei | 6,000 lei |
| Clothes | 300 lei | 3,600 lei |
| Health | 250 lei | 3,000 lei |
| Equipment (one-off) | 6,000 lei | |
| Total | 1,650 lei | 25,800 lei |
How do you prepare during pregnancy?
You usually have six to nine months. Divide the one-off costs by the number of months and set the amount aside: for 6,000 lei and eight months, that is 750 lei a month.
Check the income after the birth too. If one parent stays at home, family income drops, so calculate the budget with the new income, not the current one.
Where can you save without taking risks?
- Accept or buy second-hand items that were barely used, such as clothes and the cot, but choose the car seat by the manufacturer’s rules and check it carefully.
- Do not buy everything before the birth; many things turn out to be unnecessary.
- Buy nappies and hygiene products in larger packs when they are on offer, if you have room to store them.
- Ask for useful gifts instead of decorative ones.
How do you keep track after the baby arrives?
The first months are tiring and expenses appear on the run. Record them the same day in a single sentence so you do not end up reconstructing a bank statement.
In Family Calculator you create a category for the child and see month by month what it costs, and your partner sees the same data on their phone.
What reserve do you need?
A baby also brings costs that cannot be foreseen: an illness, a change of formula, a period without income. An emergency fund of three to six months of family expenses helps you get through them without a loan.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I spend before the birth?
Only the essentials: somewhere to sleep, a car seat and basic clothes. You can fill in the rest once you see what you actually need.
How do I split the costs with my partner?
Agree a shared budget for the baby and pay from it, whoever does the buying. Record every expense in one place.
Are the figures in the table real?
No, they are an example. Real costs depend on your city, your choices and the child’s needs. Replace them with your own.