Half of UK early-years parents delay having a baby due to costs

• New research reveals impact finances have on having children.
• A quarter of early-years parents admit they were financially unprepared before having a baby.
• Amalia, mum of two, said: "I thought the most expensive thing would be big-ticket items, the cot, furniture, etc, but I ended up getting a lot of it given to me. Buying child-friendly snacks every time I go shopping almost breaks me. And childcare."
• MoneyHelper has created a baby calculator tool to help parents manage the costs of starting a family.

The survey of more than 500 parents with a child aged 5 years or under asked what practical things people considered before having a baby. Three in five (61%) said financial cost was at the forefront of their minds, followed by housing (34%) and childcare (33%).

Other considerations included the impact on career (23%) and support from family or friends (21%).

The survey also revealed that one in four (25%) parents felt unprepared for the financial costs before having their first child.

Amalia, mother of two small children, said: 

"I thought the most expensive thing about having a baby would be the big ticket items, the cot, furniture, stuff like that, but I ended up getting a lot of it given to me by friends and family.

"What's expensive is buying child-friendly snacks, every shopping trip almost breaks me. And childcare costs, they really add up, kids clubs and everything that comes with it."

To help parents feel more prepared to start a family, a baby costs calculatorOpens in a new window has been launched by MoneyHelper - the free and impartial money and pensions guidance service, operated by MaPS.

The calculator lets you enter your baby’s due date and add the costs of essential items such as a car seat, nappies and baby bottles, as well as additional items like a baby monitor, breast pump and baby bath.

The calculator then works out how much you would be able to save each week or month, until your baby is due.

The calculator also prompts when to claim your free NHS prescriptions and dental care, and when you can start claiming allowances and grants.

Anna Sharkey, Head of Money and Pensions Policy and Propositions at the Money and Pensions Service says:

“Becoming a parent is one of life’s most joyful experiences, but for many people it can be a stressful time, particularly if money worries are involved. As our research shows, the financial cost of having a baby is a key factor in people’s decision-making.

“We want to help parents feel more financially prepared when planning for a baby. Our baby calculator tool can help by working out how much money parents need to save, and how long they need to save for, before their baby is due.”

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• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
• Total sample size was 535 parents with a child aged 5 years or under.
• Fieldwork was undertaken between the 1st to 11th May 2026.
• The survey was carried out online.
• The figures have been weighted and are representative of UK parents who have a child age 5 or under (aged 18+).
• The research showed that almost three quarters (74%) of parents said they would find a calculator such as this one helpful to compare the estimated costs of having a baby with what they can afford.

• MoneyHelperOpens in a new window offers free, impartial help for money and pensions that’s quick to find, easy to use and backed by government.
• The service offers clear guidance online, over the phone and face-to-face and also points users to trusted services, if they need more support.  
• MoneyHelper was launched in June 2021 as a consumer-facing service to offer free and impartial money and pensions guidance.
• It brings together the support and services of three former government-backed financial guidance providers: Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.