Your $5,000 baby plan
Start with the big three, then work down the list. Every step adjusts to how you live, and the piggy bank keeps score.
Questions parents ask
Answers come from each maker's published specs. Safety and health questions link to the agency or medical source.
What baby gear can I get with $5,000?
Everything on a first-year list: car seat, crib, crib mattress, stroller, diapers and wipes, first 3 months, clothes, sleep sacks, and swaddles, breast pump, formula backup, bottles, cleaning, and drying rack, bath and health basics, bassinet, carrier, diaper bag, changing pad, baby monitor, high chair, bouncer or swing, play mat and toys, and dresser and glider. 33 strollers fit the stroller line and 100 car seats fit the car seat line.
How do the price lanes work?
For each kind of gear, every model we track with a list price is split into thirds: Thrifty, Middle and Splurge. A lane is a price range, not a quality rating. Clothes, diapers, formula and basics use planning amounts instead.
Does breastfeeding or formula change the budget?
Yes. Formula for the first three months often costs more than a pump and nursing supplies, and many US health plans cover a breast pump. Change the feeding answer and the plan updates.
How many diapers of each size do I need?
It depends on how fast your baby grows. The planner uses Pampers' size chart (diapers a day and months in each size). Keep receipts and leave packs sealed so you can swap sizes.
Should I buy a used car seat to save money?
NHTSA publishes guidance on used car seats on its car seat page. Check the label and the maker's instructions, and ask your pediatrician about your child.
Still wondering? Write to us at hello@cribpicks.com and we'll look it up.