In July 2025 I was featured in The Toronto Star, in a personal finance piece on what it costs to raise a child in Canada. I was interviewed about the practical side of preparing for a baby in an expensive city, drawing on my own experience and on The Ultimate Guide to Having a Baby in Toronto.
What the article covered
The Star put a figure on early parenthood, around $17,000 a year, and looked at how families can prepare for it: hospital and birth costs, the income drop during parental leave, daycare, and the benefits that offset some of it. I spoke to the parts a spreadsheet misses, like how much a good prenatal class is worth.
“They’re not only talking about breastfeeding or how to prepare for pain management, but they’re actually walking you through where you should park when you arrive to the hospital.”
I also talked about the costs that catch new parents off guard, like a private or semi-private recovery room, which OHIP does not cover and can run $250 to $500 a night.
Read the full feature
The full article is on The Toronto Star’s website. A subscription may be required.
The full Toronto cost breakdown
For the current numbers, updated for 2026, see our full guide to the cost of having a baby in Toronto. It covers what OHIP pays for, monthly baby costs, CWELCC daycare, EI parental leave income, and the benefits that pay you back.
About the guide
When I became a parent in Toronto I was surprised how little local, all-in-one-place information there was. I wrote The Ultimate Guide to Having a Baby in Toronto to fix that. It collects the checklists, budgeting, and local links I wish I had when I was expecting.
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