How to save money on having a baby in France
What parents need to know about support and childcare costs
There are few more exciting times in life than the arrival of a new baby, but many parents-to-be also wonder how much they will have to budget for the newest member of their family.
Parents spend, on average, €490 per month on their first child, according to a 2019 Ipsos survey for the E.Leclerc observatory of new consumption trends. This figure includes around €250 in childcare.
The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis in the intervening years mean this figure is only likely to have risen. The amount can also vary considerably depending on factors including location, whether both parents work, and what kind of childcare you opt for.
Understand what the state covers
IVF is available for free for all women under the age of 43 in France. Since 2021, this is also the case for single women and female same-sex couples.
France’s family allowance fund (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales, or CAF) provides a prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant (PAJE) birth grant of just over €1,064 to women in their seventh month of pregnancy. It is designed to help prepare for the arrival of a baby.
The grant is means-tested. Find out more at caf.fr.
Mothers currently have 16 weeks’ maternity leave, but they have to take six of these weeks before the birth.
English teacher Aga Mellet, originally from Poland, moved to Lyon 11 years ago and has two daughters with her French partner, born in 2019 and 2022.
“Maternity leave felt very short here,” she said. “After giving birth, you are still in this fragile bubble, and suddenly you also have to think about going back to work.”
Women receive almost 100% of their salary during these 16 weeks, paid by the social security system.
Fathers and second parents are entitled to 25 days of leave but a recent change, which came into force in July, gives parents two extra months’ leave each. They will receive 70% of their net salary for the first month and 60% for the second month.
For the first three years of a baby’s life, parents receive a salary-dependent monthly CAF allowance from the early years support scheme (PAJE).
From the second child, families receive family allowance (allocations familiales), dependent on income.
Ms Mellet believes such state support “is one of the strengths of the system”.
“CAF really helped us, especially with childcare costs and monthly family support. At first, it felt a bit overwhelming – but once everything is set up, it becomes part of the system that quietly supports you every month. It’s not perfect, but it does make a real difference.”
Check employee benefits
Many larger employers operate a comité social et économique (CSE), which may provide baby gift vouchers, nursery subsidies, discounted childcare, or financial assistance following the birth of a child. These benefits are separate from state support and are often underused because employees do not realise they are available.
Borrow or shop second-hand
From cots and clothing to pushchairs and car seats, the cost of baby accessories can soon add up.
“One thing I quickly learned in France is that babies don’t need everything new – not even close,” said Ms Mellet. “Leboncoin became my best friend. I found a stroller that looked almost new for a fraction of the price. I remember picking it up from a lovely couple who simply said: ‘Our baby doesn’t need it anymore, maybe yours will.’ It felt very normal, very French in a way – practical but also quite human.”
She also recommends using Facebook groups and vide-greniers.
“There is something very comforting about the way baby things circulate here – like nothing is wasted, everything has a second life. And when you realise how fast babies grow, it just makes sense.”
Many towns have a ludothèque, where you can borrow toys, puzzles and baby equipment for a small annual membership (often €10-€30).
Some municipalities, centres communaux d’action sociale (CCAS), and local associations lend expensive baby items such as travel cots, baths, breast pumps or even strollers. These schemes are often poorly publicised and vary by commune, so it is worth asking your town hall directly.
For clothes, France has regulated seasonal sales (soldes) in winter and summer. Buying clothes one size ahead during the end-of-season clearance often means paying 50-70% less than full price.
Sort childcare options early
Childcare can be the biggest cost. Options include public day care (crèches), state-registered childminders, and private nurseries.
The government subsidises childcare, with how much parents pay determined by their income and how many children they have.
A study by the state statistics agency DREES found that average childcare costs after subsidies were €1.20 per hour in public daycare, €1.40 with a registered childminder, and up to €2.70 for at-home childcare.
“Childcare is something you hear about very early on,” said Ms Mellet. “I still remember being told ‘You should register now.’ And I thought… now? I haven’t even had the baby!
“But it’s true – places can be limited, especially in cities.
“The system itself depends a lot on CAF support, which makes a huge difference financially. Without it, it would be very expensive. With it, it becomes much more accessible for many families.”
