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Baby cost and parental leave calculator

Add up the baby's first year, see the gap your parental leave leaves in the budget, and how much to save each month before the due date.

Dates

Due date

Start saving on (optional, default today)

One-time costs

Crib & mattress ($)

Car seat ($)

Stroller ($)

Birth: out-of-pocket (deductible) ($)

Other one-time costs ($)

Monthly costs in the first year

Cost$ per monthMonths

Childcare (after leave ends)

Parent 1

Name

Usual weekly take-home pay ($)

Leave length (weeks)

Paid weeks

% of pay in paid weeks

Parent 2

Name

Usual weekly take-home pay ($)

Leave length (weeks)

Paid weeks

% of pay in paid weeks

Household

Household costs per month, before baby ($)

Already saved for the leave ($)

Your result

First-year cost
Leave gap
Save per month until the due date
Pregnancy week today
Days to due date

Parental leave budget

Each parent is back at usual pay for the rest of the leave period. Pregnancy week counts from 280 days before the due date.

Organizing tool, not financial advice. Organizer, not medical or financial advice. Leave weeks and pay depend on your employer and state. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is sent or saved.

Excel and Google Sheets template

Baby Budget & Pregnancy Planner

Track every purchase, your registry and thank-you notes, and all 40 weeks with dates.

Also in the Big Life Plans 2027 Bundle (US$ 24).

Get Baby Budget & Pregnancy Planner US$ 9Instant download. No subscription. Payhip.

How the math works

First-year cost = one-time costs + each monthly cost × its months. The sample adds $4,400 one-time and $12,420 monthly (childcare $1,200 × 6) = $16,820.

Leave gap: each parent's leave pay is weekly pay × paid weeks × % of pay; for the rest of the leave period (the longest leave) the other parent is back at usual pay. Alex: $1,150 × 6 × 60% = $4,140; Sam: $1,050 × 2 = $2,100 + $1,050 × 6 = $6,300; income $12,540. Costs: ($4,800 + $435 baby costs) × 12 ÷ 52 × 12 weeks = $14,496.92. Gap $1,956.92; with $600 saved, $1,356.92 over 5 months (January to May 2027) = $271.38 a month.

How much does a baby cost in the first year?

It depends on childcare more than anything else. Gear and birth costs are mostly one-time; diapers, formula and insurance repeat every month. Use your own quotes.

Is parental leave paid?

It depends on your employer and your state. Some states have paid family leave programs; many employers pay part of the salary for some weeks. Ask HR for the policy in writing.

How is the pregnancy week calculated?

From 280 days (40 weeks) before the due date. Your provider may date the pregnancy differently.

Organizing tool, not financial advice. Organizer, not medical or financial advice. Leave weeks and pay depend on your employer and state. Examples use made-up numbers.