We all know that raising children costs money, but how much does it cost to have a baby? In 2022, Discovery Health says, a planned C-section in a private hospital cost an average of R49,200 whereas a natural birth cost R25,100. Midwife-assisted births at home cost about R16,000, according to figures from two birthing centres. A baby can go through 12 nappies a day – or 360 nappies a month, which is about R2,100. Add to that a 1.8kg tin of formula at R464 for a well-known brand. And so it goes… But despite the costs, 949,757 babies were born in South Africa in 2021. A new version of this chart was published on 5 October with updated costs.