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CDA calculator: First Step Grant and matching
Find out how much the government puts into your child's Child Development Account, how much you need to save to get all of it, and the new 30 Sep 2027 deadline.
Figures checked 2 Oct 2026 against official government sources · Fussy Mama
Total in your child's CDA
CDA grant and matching caps
The CDA (Child Development Account) is a special bank account for your child. It gets two kinds of government money. The First Step Grant lands about 2 weeks after you open the account, without you saving a cent. Then the government matches every dollar you put in, up to a cap.
| Birth order | First Step Grant | Matching cap until 30 Sep 2027 | Matching cap from 1 Oct 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st child | $5,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| 2nd child | $5,000 | $7,000 | $5,000 |
| 3rd and 4th child | $10,000* | $9,000 | $5,000 |
| 5th child and later | $10,000* | $15,000 | $5,000 |
| Any child born from 1 Apr 2027 | $5,000 | - | $5,000 |
*$10,000 for 3rd and later children born from 18 Feb 2025 to 31 Mar 2027 (Large Families Scheme). Born earlier, it's $5,000. Children born from 14 Feb 2023. Source: LifeSG CDA page and SG Child Support Package page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
We read the official wording to mean that matching you've already received above $5,000 stays in the account. MSF says the old caps are kept until 30 Sep 2027 "to give families time to save up to the current caps".
Worked examples
2nd child, saving slowly. You put $3,000 in by 30 Sep 2027 and another $5,000 later, so $8,000 in total. By the deadline the government has matched $3,000, and when the cap becomes $5,000 on 1 October it matches $2,000 more, so you end up with $5,000 of matching.
Had you saved $7,000 by the deadline, you'd have got $7,000. Same money in, $2,000 less from the government.
5th child born in 2025. The cap is $15,000 until 30 Sep 2027, so if you save $15,000 by then the government adds $15,000 on top of the $10,000 First Step Grant, which makes $40,000 in the CDA. Miss the date and the most you can get is $5,000 of matching, so $10,000 less.
1st child born in June 2027. Your baby is on the new package. First Step Grant $5,000, matching up to $5,000. Save $5,000 any time before the end of the year your child turns 16 and the CDA holds $15,000.
What you can spend CDA money on
CDA money can only be paid to Approved Institutions. You can't take it out as cash. It can pay for:
- Childcare and kindergarten fees, registration fees and deposits
- Doctors, hospital bills and medicine, for your child and their siblings
- Early intervention centres and special education schools
- Assistive devices recommended by a health professional
Childminding fees are allowed, but not extras like diapers or meals. The full list of approved expenses is on AskGov. For a whole-picture plan, see our CDA guide.
When the CDA closes
For children born from 1 January 2015, the CDA now stays open until the end of the year your child turns 16. Before the new package it closed at 12. Any money left is moved to the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA), up to the PSEA cap. MOE runs the PSEA and it is meant for education costs later on.
How to open it
- Sign up for the Baby Bonus Scheme when you register the birth on LifeSG, and pick POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB.
- Look out for an email and LifeSG inbox message, then open the CDA and Child Savings Account in your bank's app.
- Deposits are matched within 2 weeks. Set up a GIRO or standing instruction so you don't forget.
Questions parents ask
How much is the CDA First Step Grant?
$5,000 for most children. 3rd and later children born from 18 Feb 2025 to 31 March 2027 get $10,000 under the Large Families Scheme. Babies born from 1 April 2027 all get $5,000 under the SG Child Support Package.
How does CDA matching work?
For every $1 you put into the CDA, the government adds $1, up to your child's cap. The matching is credited within 2 weeks of your deposit, and you can spend the First Step Grant before you've saved anything.
What is the CDA matching cap for my child?
Until 30 Sep 2027 it's $4,000 for a 1st child, $7,000 for a 2nd, $9,000 for a 3rd or 4th and $15,000 for a 5th child or later. From 1 Oct 2027 every cap becomes $5,000. Children born from 1 April 2027 have a $5,000 cap from the start.
Is there a deadline to top up the CDA?
Two. To use a cap above $5,000, deposit by 30 Sep 2027. After that, you can keep saving up to the $5,000 cap until the CDA closes at the end of the year your child turns 16 (for children born from 2015).
Can grandparents put money into the CDA?
Yes. Anyone can deposit, and their deposits get matched the same way as yours, up to the cap. It's a nice birthday or ang bao gift that doubles.
Can I withdraw CDA money as cash?
No. CDA money can only be paid to Approved Institutions like preschools, clinics and hospitals. Leftover money moves to your child's PSEA when the CDA closes.
Can I use my child's CDA for a sibling?
Yes, for approved expenses like preschool fees and medical bills of siblings. The Large Families Scheme page says the same for the $10,000 grant.
Which bank should I open the CDA with?
You choose POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB when you sign up for Baby Bonus. Each bank sets its own interest rate and perks, so compare them before you pick.
