Children are expensive little critters. Once they acquire the ability to speak, they start demanding that you buy them Nintendo Switches and iPhones. As a parent, you need all the financial help you can get.
The Baby Bonus scheme helps defray the cost of raising a child in Singapore in the hopes of encouraging married people to procreate more. The more kids you have, the more money you receive.
Despite the Baby Bonus and other initiatives aimed at parents, Singapore’s birth rate continues to decline. That said, it pays to figure out how much you can receive in exchange for creating your own offspring.
So, how much can you get? Here’s a guide to figuring out your Baby Bonus payout.
What is the Baby Bonus Scheme?
The Baby Bonus Scheme’s full name is actually the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme. The Baby Bonus Scheme comprises of 2 components: Cash Gift, and Child Development Account (CDA). The CDA then comprises the First Step Grant, and dollar-for-dollar co-matching. Lost already? Here’s a quick explanation on what these terms mean:
Cash Gift ($11,000 to $13,000): This is the first batch of free money you’ll get with each child, and is credited to your bank account. You can register for the scheme as early as 8 weeks before the birth. However, you need to be part of a state-sanctioned nuclear family to get this cash. Unwed mums do not receive the Cash Gift.
Child Development Account (CDA): The CDA is a special savings account for your child. The First Step Grant (explained in the next line) is deposited into the CDA without you having to save first. Your subsequent savings will be co-matched by the Government, up to a cap.
CDA First Step Grant ($5,000): This is a grant that the government deposits when you open a CDA account (Child Development Account) in your baby’s name. You just need to choose between DBS/POSB, OCBC and UOB to manage the account.
Dollar-for-dollar matching (up to $15,000, amount depends on birth order): The CDA is a co-savings account, meaning for each $1 you put in your baby’s account, the government will give him another $1. This happens all the way until age 12, with limits set depending on the birth order of your child.
Depending on the birth order of your child, this is how much you can get under the Baby Bonus scheme:
| Birth order | Total Baby Bonus payout |
| 1st child | Up to $20,000 |
| 2nd child | Up to $23,000 |
| 3rd child | Up to $27,000 |
| 4th child | Up to $27,000 |
| 5th child onwards | Up to $33,000 |
Scroll down to the relevant birth order for further details of the Baby Bonus payout.
A quick guide to all baby benefits
| 1st child | 2nd child | 3rd or 4th child | 5th child onwards | |
| Cash Gift | $11,000 | $11,000 | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| CDA First Step | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Dollar-for-Dollar Matching | $4,000 | $7,000 | $9,000 | $15,000 |
| Total | $20,000 | $23,000 | $27,000 | $33,000 |
Baby Bonus for 1st child (up to $20,000)
For your 1st child, the government will give you a Baby Bonus of up to $20,000.Here’s how it works out:
| Baby Bonus component | Amount given by government | When |
| Cash Gift | $11,000 | Within 7-10 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later. Disbursed every 6 months until child turns 6.5 years. |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | 3-5 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later |
| Dollar-for-dollar matching | Up to $4,000 | Within 2 weeks of depositing savings into your child’s CDA account |
| TOTAL | Up to $20,000 | – |
The Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus is staggered according to the following schedule:
| When | Amount given under Cash Gift |
| At birth | $3,000 |
| When your child is 6 months old | $1,500 |
| When your child is 12 months old | $1,500 |
| When your child is 15 months old | – |
| When your child is 18 months old | $1,000 |
| When your child is 2 years to 6.5 years old | $400 every 6 months |
| TOTAL CASH GIFT | $11,000 |
Baby Bonus for 2nd child (up to $23,000)
For your 2nd child, the government will give you a Baby Bonus of up to $23,000.Here’s how it works out:
| Baby Bonus component | Amount given by government | When |
| Cash Gift | $11,000 | Within 7-10 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later. Disbursed every 6 months until child turns 6.5 years. |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | 3-5 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later |
| Dollar-for-dollar matching | Up to $7,000 | Within 2 weeks of depositing savings into your child’s CDA account |
| TOTAL | Up to $23,000 | – |
The Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus is staggered according to the following schedule:
| When | Amount given under Cash Gift |
| At birth | $3,000 |
| When your child is 6 months old | $1,500 |
| When your child is 12 months old | $1,500 |
| When your child is 15 months old | – |
| When your child is 18 months old | $1,000 |
| When your child is 2 years to 6.5 years old | $400 every 6 months |
| TOTAL CASH GIFT | $11,000 |
Baby Bonus for 3rd or 4th child (up to $27,000)
For your 3rd and 4th child, the government will give you a Baby Bonus of up to $27,000. Here’s how it works out:
| Baby Bonus component | Amount given by government | When |
| Cash Gift | $13,000 | Within 7-10 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later. Disbursed every 6 months until child turns 6.5 years. |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | 3-5 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later |
| Dollar-for-dollar matching | Up to $9,000 | Within 2 weeks of depositing savings into your child’s CDA account |
| TOTAL | Up to $27,000 | – |
The Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus is staggered according to the following schedule:
| When | Amount given under Cash Gift |
| At birth | $4,000 |
| When your child is 6 months old | $2,000 |
| When your child is 12 months old | $2,000 |
| When your child is 15 months old | – |
| When your child is 18 months old | $1,000 |
| When your child is 2 years to 6.5 years old | $400 every 6 months |
| TOTAL CASH GIFT | $13,000 |
Baby Bonus for 5th child onwards (up to $33,000)
For your 5th child and any other children thereafter, the government will give you a Baby Bonus of up to $33,000. Here’s how it works out:
| Baby Bonus component | Amount given by government | When |
| Cash Gift | $13,000 | Within 7-10 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later. Disbursed every 6 months until child turns 6.5 years. |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | 3-5 working days of child’s birth registration or after child’s enrolment into Baby Bonus Scheme, whichever is later |
| Dollar-for-dollar matching | Up to $15,000 | Within 2 weeks of depositing savings into your child’s CDA account |
| TOTAL | Up to $33,000 | – |
For the 5th child onwards, the Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus is staggered according to the following schedule:
| When | Amount given under Cash Gift |
| At birth | $4,000 |
| When your child is 6 months old | $2,000 |
| When your child is 12 months old | $2,000 |
| When your child is 15 months old | – |
| When your child is 18 months old | $1,000 |
| When your child is 2 years to 6.5 years old | $400 every 6 months |
| TOTAL CASH GIFT | $13,000 |
Do you get the Baby Bonus payout if you’re a single parent?
Unfortunately, single parents are not eligible for some of the financial perks:
❌ Cash Gift
✅ CDA First Step Grant
✅ Dollar-for-Dollar Matching
Single parents do not get the Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus (11,000 to $13,000), but their kids will still get their own CDA. They are also entitled to the $5,000 CDA First Step Grant as well as the usual dollar-for-dollar matching.
Here’s a comparison of how much less single parents get for the Baby Bonus payout as compared to their married peers:
| Birth order | Baby Bonus payout (married parents) | Baby Bonus payout (single parents) |
| 1st child | Up to $20,000 | Up to $9,000 |
| 2nd child | Up to $23,000 | Up to $12,000 |
| 3rd child | Up to $27,000 | Up to $14,000 |
| 4th child | Up to $27,000 | Up to $14,000 |
| 5th child onwards | Up to $33,000 | Up to $20,000 |
Read our guide to child subsidies and financial assistance for single parents in Singapore.
What do you need to do to get the Baby Bonus payout?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to how you can get the money.
Step 1: Have a baby. Hopefully we don’t need to tell you how to do this. If you adopt a child, you are also eligible for the Baby Bonus.
Step 2: Enrol in the Baby Bonus scheme. You will need a valid marriage cert for this, and your child needs to be born in Singapore or have Singapore citizenship. You can sign up for the Baby Bonus scheme online as early as 8 weeks before the delivery date. Check your eligibility.
Step 3: Register your baby’s birth. This will automatically open your child’s CDA in 3 to 5 working days. You can also open a CDA account online.
Step 4: Save money in your child’s CDA. Do this before he turns 12, and the government will do dollar-for-dollar matching all the way until you hit the cap (based on birth order). It’s super worth it — we can’t think of any other investment that will give you a 100% yield.
However, note that funds in the CDA account are locked up and can only be used for education and healthcare expenses for your child, and only at Baby Bonus approved childcare centres, kindergartens, hospitals, clinics, etc. So, if you anticipate cash flow problems, don’t be in too much of a hurry to max out your Baby Bonus just yet.
Read our guide on the CDA account and what you can use it on.
Other childcare subsidies & benefits in Singapore
Apart from the Baby Bonus, there are other childcare subsidies you can get to raise your kids. It’s no small sum either. Added together, they amount to more than $50,000 in either subsidies or savings.
Medisave Grant for Newborns ($4,000): All Singapore babies get a CPF Medisave account and the money will be automatically credited to the account. You can use it to pay for your child’s MediShield Life premiums, recommended childhood vaccinations, hospitalisation and approved outpatient treatments.
Basic infantcare ($600) and childcare ($300) subsidies: Singaporean kids who are enrolled with an infantcare or childcare provider licensed by ECDA get their fees subsidised. However, the better benefits are for working mothers. Non-working mothers get only $150.
Additional Childcare Subsidy ($40 to $710 for infantcare and $80 to $467 for childcare): This is additional aid for parents with an annual household income of $12,000 or less.
Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme KiFAS ($17 to $161): Singaporean children from lower income families ($3,000 and below) can attend kindergartens at subsidised rates.
Parenthood Tax Rebate (up to $20,000): If you’re a tax-paying Singaporean who is married, divorced or widowed in the relevant year, you can get a tax rebate of $5,000 for your first child, $10,000 for your second child and $20,000 for your third child. The tax rebate is capped at $20,000 per child if you continue to expand your family. As it is a one-off rebate, you can only claim it once.
Working Mother’s Child Relief (up to $12,000): Starting in 2025 (for income earned in 2024), working mothers who are married, divorced or widowed and who are maintaining Singapore Citizen children can claim tax relief of up to 15% of earned income for their first child, 20% for the second and 25% for the third and beyond.
Maid levy concessionary rate ($60): If you hire a domestic helper to help care for your child (below 16 years old), you’ll be eligible for a concessionary levy rate of $60 per month (i.e. concession of $240).
And in a few years’ time, when your baby is old enough to go to primary school, a whole other set of financial schemes kick in: Edusave, PSEA, MOE Financial Assistance Scheme and so on.
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