Raising children in Singapore costs a lot of money and parents with three or more kids know how quickly expenses pile up. Everything from diapers to preschool fees gets more expensive every year. The Baby Bonus Scheme 2025 update brings welcome support to growing families across the island who are trying to manage their budgets. The scheme helps ease the financial pressure that comes with having children.
The big news is that parents welcoming their third child or more from 18 February 2025 will receive a $10000 Child Development Account First Step Grant automatically without needing to contribute any money upfront.
This marks the start of a refreshed Large Families Scheme that aims to support households managing rising costs and long-term childcare needs. The program offers financial assistance to families with multiple children who face increasing expenses.
Updated Snapshot: Key 2025 Baby Bonus Upgrades for Third-Born Children
| Component | Before 2025 | From 18 Feb 2025 | Who Gets It |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | $10,000 | 3rd child onwards |
| Large Family MediSave | – | $5,000 | Mother |
| Large Family LifeSG Credits | – | $6,000 over six years | 3rd child onwards |
| Baby Bonus Cash Gift | $11,000 | $13,000 | 3rd child onwards |
The 2025 Large Families Scheme: What’s New for Parents Welcoming a 3rd Child
1. $10,000 First Step Grant (CDA) — Doubled for 3rd Child & Beyond
Canada Lines Up 6 CRA Payments Before Christmas 2025 - Revised Deposit Dates and Updated Timelines
Under the enhanced Baby Bonus scheme, parents welcoming their 3rd or subsequent child will now receive a $10,000 First Step Grant, a major increase from the previous $5,000.
No parental top-up is required. After you open your child’s CDA with DBS/POSB, OCBC, or UOB, the grant will be credited automatically.
Eligibility Criteria:
– Child must be a Singapore Citizen
– Born on or after 18 February 2025
This increased support helps families manage early expenses such as preschool and childcare fees, medical costs, and other payments at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions (AIs).
2. $5,000 MediSave Grant for Mothers (3rd Child Onwards)
A meaningful boost for mums under the Large Families Scheme — mothers will receive a $5,000 MediSave top-up when they deliver their 3rd or subsequent child.
The amount is automatically credited into the mother’s MediSave account and can be used for:
• Pregnancy and delivery expenses
• Hospitalisation costs
• MediShield Life premium payments
• Future outpatient treatments
This grant helps ease the upfront medical expenses that many families face even before their newborn arrives home.
3. $6000 LifeSG Credits to Help With Daily Expenses
Parents raising multiple children often feel the squeeze of daily essentials. To help lighten this load, the government will provide $1,000 in LifeSG credits every year for six years.
The credits begin when the child turns one and continue annually until age six. Families can use them at participating merchants, including heartland shops, optical stores, and baby product retailers.
Over six years, this adds up to a total of $6,000 that goes directly back into supporting household expenses.
Revised Total Support Package: Over S$43,000 in Benefits for the Third Child
Here’s a clearer breakdown of the upgraded family support package:
– $13,000 Baby Bonus Cash Gift
– $10,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant
– Up to $9,000 Government Co-Matching when parents save in the CDA
– $5,000 MediSave Top-Up for the mother
– $6,000 LifeSG Credits for large families
When fully utilised, total benefits exceed $43,000 — almost double the support given to first-time parents.
Baby Bonus Cash Gift Timeline: How Each Payment Is Released
Everything is now handled directly through the LifeSG app, which most parents already use:
Step 1: Register your baby’s birth
Once you complete the birth registration, the app will automatically guide you to apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme.
Step 2: Select your bank
Choose DBS, UOB, or OCBC as your preferred bank for opening the Child Development Account (CDA).
Step 3: Receive confirmation
You’ll get an SMS once the CDA is successfully opened and when the Baby Bonus funds are credited.
It’s a seamless process—no queues, no documents, no manual forms needed.
Fast Application Guide: Submitting Your Baby Bonus via LifeSG
You are eligible if:
– Your child is a Singapore Citizen.
– The child is born on or after 18 February 2025.
– The parents are legally married.
(Unwed parents may still receive CDA benefits but will not qualify for the full Baby Bonus Cash Gift.)
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you can view your personalised status directly in the LifeSG app.
2025 Eligibility Requirements: Who Qualifies for the Enhanced Benefits
If you’re thinking about having a third child or you already have several kids the 2025 improvements make a real difference. The $10,000 CDA grant provides substantial help when infant care and preschool costs can reach several hundred dollars every month.
The government provides $13,000 in cash along with $5000 for MediSave & $6,000 in LifeSG credits. When you add these amounts together the government helps cover a large portion of the early childhood expenses that typically put the most financial pressure on families.
In a time when cost of living support really matters for everyday expenses like groceries at FairPrice or necessities from your local heartland shops these enhancements provide some financial relief for parents working to raise happy and healthy children in Singapore.
