Newborn
Planning to have a child or expecting a newborn
Example below shows how it applies for a first child
1. Baby Bonus Cash Gift (Credited to Child Savings Account)
- Total Amount: $11,000
- First $3,000 is disbursed at birth.
- Remainder is paid at 6, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months, up until the child is 6.5 years old.
- What can you use it for:
- The cash gift can be used for any purpose, as it is credited as Cash to the Child’s Savings Account (CSA).
2. Child Development Account (CDA)
- Government’s Initial Deposit: (First step grant)
- $5,000 (no initial deposit required from parents)
- Government co-matching Top-Up:
- Up to $4,000.
- What can you use it for:
- Funds in the CDA can only be used for approved purposes such as healthcare, preschool fees, and other educational needs.
Here are common options parents consider when having a newborn baby, along with their associated costs:
1. Nanny (for the 1st or first 2 months)
Cost: Ranges from $2,800 to $4,000/mth
If sourced through agency, it may cost up to $4,500/mth
2. Helper (typically 2-year contract)
Salary: $500 to $750/mth depending on experience and nationality
Domestic helper Levy: $60/mth (concession)
Medical insurance: $700 to $1,000 a year, depending on age and tier of insurance.
If sourced through an agency, there will be additional charges such as fees and paperwork administrative charges that can amount to $2,000 to $3,000.
3. InfantCare (7am to 7pm)
Government-approved centres:
Typically cost $700/mth after government subsidies
(Can be paid using CDA account)
Private Infant Care:
Typically $2,000 to $3,000 after government subsidies
Read article for more – other alternatives and options
As first-time parents, the costs of baby essentials can feel overwhelming, often adding up to $3,000 to $4,000. However, you can save by exploring the second-hand market for hand-me-downs, where many items are available at lower prices.
With careful budgeting and planning, you can manage these expenses more effectively.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a checklist that outlines the essential items you’ll need for your baby, along with average prices to guide your budgeting process.
Optional Steps
Get a Hospitalisation Plan for Your Newborn: Apply for an Integrated Shield Plan for your baby. You can apply as early as 14-days old for some insurers.
Your life protection is their main protection – Upsize it: Surprisingly, this is the next priority, rather than plans on the child’s own life or health. Just as how we cannot safeguard the unborn baby directly except by safeguarding the mother, your newborn child’s financial security depends mainly on how well you as parents are insured against loss of your income in case of death, serious illness or disability. The child has no income of his own for which to insure, but depends on yours. So, now that the baby’s here, you need to have more protection – for him or her.
Critical Illness Plans for Your Newborn: This can be considered as a third priority, if budget allows.
In Singapore, vaccinations for newborns under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) are fully subsidised for citizens, ensuring that families do not incur any out-of-pocket costs when accessing these essential services at clinics or through home-based options.
Additionally, parents have the option to purchase extra vaccines that are not covered under the NCIS, allowing them to provide additional protection for their children if they choose to.
Vaccinations can be done at Polyclinics or GPs.
Skip the queue and get the convenience by booking home-based vaccination service with telehealth providers.
In event of your untimely demise, if you have a newborn and do not write a will, the distribution of your assets will be determined by Singapore’s intestacy laws. This means that your estate may not be distributed according to your wishes, which can lead to potential disputes among family members.
Additionally, without a designated guardian in place, the court will decide who will care for your child, which may not align with your preferences.
Writing a will ensures that your wishes are clearly stated and provides protection for your loved ones.
Plan ahead with MoneyOwl’s End‑of‑Life and Estate Planning e-book to understand estate planning, secure your wishes, protect your loved ones, and make informed end‑of‑life decisions.
This e-book will help you to understand how to ensure your wishes are honoured and assets are distributed smoothly, using essential tools like wills, CPF nominations and trusts.
Get acquainted with the different government support schemes for parents.
Understand the types of insurance you and your child needs to be adequately protected.
Understand the steps needed to plan financially for your child’s education.
This e-book demonstrates how to optimise government grants, the types of insurance needed for adequate protection, how to grow your money so you can plan for your child’s education (and your retirement) as well as how to plan for all those big what-if scenarios.
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