Are you planning to start a family soon? If yes, you might be interested to know the cost of having a baby in Malaysia.
Thus, In this post, I will be sharing how much I spent preparing and welcoming our baby in 2016.
To be exact, the cost in this post is from early pregnancy until my baby is 1 month old.
Throughout our journey to have our baby, I recorded the amount we spent on the items that we bought.
However, there are some small items that I didn’t manage to record. Nevertheless, I do roughly remember how much we paid for these items.
For the past 2 years, I was too occupied with my life as a full-time working mum. Therefore, I didn’t manage to compile the whole list of my expenses as we welcome our baby.
Until recently I managed to gather most of the records for this post. It took me a quite number of hours to prepare for this post.
So, take some time to read through my sharing on the cost of having a baby in Malaysia. Perhaps you can use this as an expense guideline when you plan to start a family.
Table of Contents
- Early pregnancy cost
- Delivery and paediatrics cost
- Confinement cost
- Newborn preparation cost
- Baby full-moon celebration
- Miscellaneous cost
- The total cost of having a baby in Malaysia
- Final thoughts
Early pregnancy cost
First, let’s start with the early pregnancy costs. Overall, I spent RM2,192.90 on my early pregnancy cost.
Basically, a big portion went to clinic and specialist visits for scanning and professional advice.
Similarly, maternity wear also holds quite a huge percentage of my early pregnancy cost.
The breakdown of my early pregnancy costs is below.
- Pregnancy test kits: RM10 per unit x 3 = RM30
- Private Clinic and Specialist visits (total of 9 visits): RM633
- Prenatal vitamins: RM18 per unit x 9 = RM162
- good quality maternity pants (6 pieces): RM418.50
- good quality maternity blouse (8 pieces): RM431.80
- maternity undergarments: RM88.60
- Pregnancy shoes (a good quality sandal): RM99
- Accu check glucometer set (for gestational diabetes): RM150
- additional glucometer test strips and lancets: RM100
- Pregnancy nutrition or milk: RM40 x 2 = RM80
- Subtotal: RM2,192.90
Delivery and paediatrics cost
For delivery, we made the right decision to give birth at SGH (Sarawak General Hospital).
Obviously, there are several reasons why I decided to give birth at SGH.
Earlier, I wrote about it in my other post on how much the cost of giving birth at SGH. Because of this, we managed to save quite a lot.
If we had chosen delivery at a private hospital, it easily cost more than RM10,000 due to my emergency c-section.
Furthermore, we also heard that infant jaundice stays at a private hospital are very expensive too. For example, a 2 days stay can easily cost more than RM1,000.
As shown below, the total amount we spent on delivery and paediatrics is RM329.00.
- hospital stay and delivery charges via c-section at Sarawak General Hospital: RM187
- baby paediatrics charges at Sarawak General Hospital: RM38.50
- Compression stockings: RM80
- The baby stay at the hospital due to jaundice (3 days): RM23.50
- Subtotal: RM329.00
Confinement cost
Next would be my confinement cost for my confinement period of 30 days. For this purpose, we spent a total of RM5,557.40.
In fact, about 70% of my confinement cost is paid to my confinement lady.
Prior to this, I wrote about it in a complete post on the cost of a confinement lady in Kuching. I consider myself lucky to have her for RM3,800.
Because during that time, most of the confinement charges are around RM4,000 per confinement.
As for confinement food, there are a lot of herbs involved. Some of the herbs and tonics were gifts from family members. Hence, that helped me to save some money.
Further details of my confinement cost as below.
- Confinement lady: RM3800 + RM200 angpao = RM4,000
- red wine & rice wine: RM273
- cooking wine: RM8
- sesame oil: RM13 x 2 = RM26
- black vinegar: RM18.50
- anchovies: RM50
- goji berry, red dates, longan, other herbs: RM53
- kacangma herb: RM30
- mee sua: RM20
- fresh confinement food: RM30 per day x 30 days = RM900
- confinement herbal bath: RM28 x 3 packs = RM84
- confinement wear (new pyjamas set): RM20 x 3 = RM60
- dry shampoo: RM34.90
- Subtotal: RM5,557.40
Newborn preparation cost
A new mum should know that there are so many things to prepare for a newborn. Thus, I separated the cost into different sections.
In total, we spent RM4,460.70 preparing for the basic needs of our baby.
Certainly, the figure is more than this. For example, I spent more than RM120 on my baby feeding bottles. Because I bought these bottles separately at different places.
Newborn feeding cost
Another big expense is for feeding which is RM1,452.00. Probably because I bought 2 breast pumps.
At first, it was a Medela single electric breast pump that was hurried purchased by hubby.
Because I was at the pediatric ward with my newborn. So, I just simply informed hubby to buy a temporary breast pump.
Then, after using it for a while, I realized that I need a more powerful breast pump. Thus, this time around I did some research before I bought the second breast pump, a Tiny Touch double breast pump.
Due to that, I spent more than RM1,000 on breast pumps.
The expenses details of my newborn feeding cost as below:
- baby feeding bottle set: RM120
- infant formula milk: RM 65 x 2 = RM130
- baby safe cleanser twin set: RM45
- baby calming pacifier: RM25 x 2 = RM50
- Medela single electric breast pump set: RM420
- Tiny Touch intelligent double electric breast pump set: RM600
- milk pump storage set (cooler storage bag, cooler, bottles for storage): RM70
- nursing pads: RM17
- Subtotal: RM1,452.00
Newborn apparel cost
Overall, we spent a total of RM407.40 on baby clothes.
Earlier, my confinement lady had advised me to buy bigger-size baby clothes. Because she said the baby grows very fast.
Thus, I followed her advice and I am grateful for it. Instead of newborn size, I bought up to 6 months in size.
The breakdown of my newborn apparel cost is as below:
- cotton newborn clothes (8 sets of day clothes about RM25 each set): RM200
- cotton newborn clothes (5 sets of evening/night clothes about RM25 each set): RM125
- receiving blanket/swaddle: RM45.50
- baby hat set: RM16.90
- mitten and booties: RM5 per set x 4 = RM20
- Subtotal: RM407.40
Newborn bedding cost
For newborn bedding, we spent quite a lot which is RM1,105.80.
Basically, we just want to ensure our baby is safe when he’s asleep. Furthermore, most of his first few months were spent in the baby cot.
Therefore we decided to go for a latex baby mattress and a latex baby pillow.
The details of our newborn bedding cost are as below:
- foldable wooden baby cot: RM320
- latex baby mattress with bedsheet: RM443.00
- latex baby pillow with cover: RM65
- mosquito net set & holder: RM160
- pillow and bolster set: RM27.80
- baby cradle net: RM20 x 2 = RM40
- infant toys: RM50
- Subtotal: RM1,105.80
Newborn hygiene and bath care cost
For newborn hygiene and bath care, we spent a total of RM514.50.
Rather than buying premium items, we practised prudent spending by using medium-range items.
Comparatively, if we were to buy premium items, the cost definitely will be higher.
Below are the expenses for my newborn hygiene and bath care:
- diaper for newborn: RM33.90 x 2 = RM67.80
- diaper wipes: RM12.20
- cotton baby towel: RM25 x 2 = RM50
- baby napkin: RM43.90 per pack x 2 = RM87.80
- handkerchief or washcloth: RM1 each x 10 = RM10
- basket or mummy bag to carry baby stuff: RM60
- baby shampoo & bath: RM10
- bathtub with anti-slip mat: RM35
- baby lotion: RM20
- baby yu yee oil: RM5
- grip water: RM13.70
- Parrot eucalyptus oil: RM12.70
- Three legs mouth cleansing liquid: RM3.50
- baby powder: RM12
- powder puff: RM8
- diaper cream: RM18
- Simba mosquito repellent: RM27.50
- Bud’s mozzie clear lotion: RM44.20
- diaper changing mat: RM17.10
- Subtotal: RM514.50
Newborn safety cost
Surely as parents, we put our baby’s safety and health as first priority.
For this purpose we spent a total of RM981.00 on the items below:
- Infrared ear and forehead digital thermometer for baby: RM232
- baby car seat: RM250
- baby stroller with basket: RM499
- Subtotal: RM981.00
Baby full-moon celebration
It is a Chinese tradition to have a baby-full moon celebration when a baby is 1 month old.
For this purpose, we spent around RM500 on a simple family dinner at home.
Miscellaneous cost
Finally, throughout preparing and welcoming our baby, we also spent on other things which we grouped under miscellaneous costs.
For this purpose, the total amount we spent is RM319.00 on the items below:
- water thermos: RM40
- new pot for confinement food: RM39
- outdoor fold-able clothes hanger: RM120
- Bi-weekly fresh coconut drinks: RM10 per week x 12 weeks = RM120
- Subtotal: RM319.00
The total cost of having a baby in Malaysia
To sum up, the total amount we spent on welcoming our bundle of joy is RM13,359.00.
For better illustration, I put down the summary below:
- early pregnancy cost: RM2,192.90
- delivery and paediatrics cost: RM329.00
- confinement cost: RM5,557.40
- newborn preparation cost: RM4,460.70
- baby full-moon celebration cost: RM500.00
- miscellaneous cost: RM319.00
In other words, the cost of having a baby in Malaysia can be quite expensive.
I consider my husband and me cost cautious type.
Thus, we tried to minimize our spending except for the items which we define priority for our baby’s safety.
But, please don’t take my sharing in this post as something to stop you from having your babies.
The main reason for this sharing is to better prepared potential parents financially when they are planning to start a family.
Even though motherhood does change me financially, but, trust me when I said having our baby brings the greatest joy to us. Thus, every cent spent is worth it.
Final thoughts
Above all, the cost of having a baby in Malaysia definitely can be much lower than what I shared here. For that reason, I share tips to save costs on having a baby in Malaysia in another post.
In fact, new parents can easily save thousands of Ringgit through online shopping platforms such as Shopee.
If you wish to know the expenses for my son’s first year, second year and third year, you might want to check up on my posts below:
Lastly, do share with me the cost of welcoming your baby. I am sure many young couples are interested to know the cost of having a baby in Malaysia.
Feel free to share your view and comment below.
