Baby Gear Budget Calculator
Build a detailed baby gear budget for strollers, cribs, car seats, and all the essentials with new vs used pricing.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Baby gear costs range from $500 (minimal budget) to $5,000+ (premium everything). The "big three" -- car seat, stroller, and crib -- account for most of the budget. Buying used can save 40-60% on most items, but NEVER buy a used car seat. Not financial advice.
The Formula
Total = Stroller + Car Seat + Crib + Monitor + Other
Used savings = Discountable items x Used% x 50% discount
Car seats excluded from used calculation (safety)
Used savings = Discountable items x Used% x 50% discount
Car seats excluded from used calculation (safety)
Variables
- Big three — Car seat, stroller, crib -- typically 60%+ of gear budget
- Used discount — Secondhand items typically 40-60% off retail
Example
$300 stroller + $250 car seat + $300 crib + $100 monitor + $400 other = $1,350 new, ~$1,110 with 30% bought used.
Tips
- NEVER buy a used car seat -- you cannot verify crash history or recall status
- Consumer Reports and NHTSA rate car seats by safety -- price does not always equal safety
- Many hospitals and fire stations offer free car seat installation checks
- Wait for seasonal sales (Black Friday, Prime Day, end-of-season clearance)
- Test strollers in-store before buying -- folding ease and weight matter more than features