# Baby costs hit £23k for UK parents

> UK parents face £23,000 average cost of having a baby, mostly lost earnings.
- Title: Baby costs hit £23k for UK parents · MadeForMums | Shortify
- Summary: UK parents face £23,000 average cost of having a baby, mostly lost earnings. UK parents lose £20,504 in earnings during statutory leave, making up 88% of…
- Keywords: parenting, statutory leave, earnings loss, baby costs, compare the market, nappies, prams, Baby, costs, hit, 23k, parents
- Source: MadeForMums — https://madeformums.com/news/pregnancy-news/having-a-baby-could-cost-uk-parents-thousands-pounds
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: uk, parenting, statutory leave, earnings loss, baby costs, compare the market, nappies, prams
## New research reveals
Having a baby costs £23,263.41 on average in the first year.
## Mostly lost earnings
£20,504 comes from statutory leave earnings loss, not baby items.
## Why it matters
88% of cost is lost income during parental leave, not nappies or prams.
## Expert advice
Charlie Evans says parents should plan for income changes and unexpected costs.

> having a baby is a very exciting time for families, but it’s also natural for parents to think about how their finances might change
## Baby essentials cost
Nappies and food cost £1,107.96, nursery items add £1,651.45.
## How to prepare
Plan budget, research costs, and save for unexpected expenses.
## Key takeaway

UK parents lose £20,504 in earnings during statutory leave, making up 88% of baby cost.