Parenthood & Planning

Eligible families can receive the Baby Bonus Cash Gift (about $11,000 for the 1st and 2nd child, and $13,000 for the 3rd and subsequent child), a Child Development Account (CDA) with a First Step grant ($5,000 for the 1st and 2nd child, and $10,000 for the 3rd and subsequent child born on or after 18 February 2025) plus government dollar-for-dollar co-matching of your savings (up to $6,000 for the 1st and 2nd child, $12,000 for the 3rd and 4th child, and $18,000 for the 5th child onwards), and a $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns for babies born on or after 1 April 2025. Amounts and eligibility can change, so confirm the current figures at lifesg.gov.sg/babybonus, msf.gov.sg, and madeforfamilies.gov.sg before you plan around them.

Eligible working mothers can receive up to 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave, and eligible fathers receive 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (made fully mandatory from 1 April 2025). In addition, from 1 April 2026 parents can share up to 10 weeks of Government-Paid Shared Parental Leave between them. Eligibility depends on factors like your child's citizenship and your employment, so check the latest details and your own situation at mom.gov.sg and profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg. See our maternity and paternity leave guide for a plain-English overview.

The CDA is a special savings account for your child's development and healthcare-related expenses, such as childcare, kindergarten, and approved medical costs. It typically comes with a First Step grant that you receive without needing to save first ($5,000 for the 1st and 2nd child, and $10,000 for the 3rd and subsequent child born on or after 18 February 2025), plus government dollar-for-dollar co-matching when you deposit your own money, up to a cap that increases with birth order (up to $6,000 for the 1st and 2nd child, $12,000 for the 3rd and 4th child, and $18,000 for the 5th child onwards). You can read more in our Baby Bonus and support guide, and confirm the current scheme details at lifesg.gov.sg/babybonus.

Costs vary widely depending on your choices, such as public versus private hospital delivery, the type of room, and whether you hire help like a confinement nanny. There are one-time costs (delivery, baby gear, the nursery) and recurring costs (diapers, milk if not breastfeeding, childcare later on). Rather than guess, use our baby cost estimator to build a rough picture for your family, then read the budgeting guide to plan around it. Remember that government support can offset a meaningful part of these costs.

Many parents start the process around or shortly after birth, and some steps can be done during pregnancy. Joining the Baby Bonus Scheme and opening a CDA are usually straightforward online, but timelines and steps can change, so follow the official instructions at lifesg.gov.sg/babybonus and msf.gov.sg. If you are unsure, our Baby Bonus and support guide explains the general flow, and you can speak to your hospital's admissions team, who often help new parents with registration.