Ayan Chakravarty, a digital content creator, has sparked a debate on social media about the true cost of raising a child in India's metro cities. According to reports from Mint, Chakravarty revealed in his Instagram video series "Dad Diaries" that he and his wife spent close to ₹4 lakh between discovering the pregnancy and their daughter turning six months old. The expenses included medical consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, delivery costs, vaccinations, baby essentials, diapers, formula milk, toys, and childcare-related costs. As reported by Mint, Chakravarty said "If you were thinking that having a child in today's day and age in a metro city is expensive, you'd be shocked to hear the real numbers."
As reported by Mint, Chakravarty estimated that medicines and supplements alone cost his family between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000 per month during the pregnancy period. The hospital bill for delivery amounted to between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh. Initial months after birth involved significant one-time expenses, with Chakravarty estimating spending ₹9,000 to ₹15,000 on a baby crib, ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 on clothes, and around ₹10,000 on feeding bottles, sterilisers and other essentials. According to Mint, expenses begin immediately after pregnancy is confirmed, with regular doctor visits, scans, blood tests and medicines forming part of the early costs.
According to the breakdown reported by Mint, recurring monthly expenses added significant pressure. Chakravarty said doctor visits during the first six months cost roughly ₹1,200 per consultation, while vaccinations emerged as one of the biggest expenses. Diapers cost around ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 per month, formula milk another ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 monthly, and toys and miscellaneous consumables approximately ₹2,500 each month. As reported by Mint, one user commented that "premium diapers cost around ₹15 per piece, that would make it roughly ₹2,500 per month, so the calculation in the video is way off," suggesting the actual diaper costs could be lower.
As reported by Mint, Chakravarty's calculations quickly gained traction on social media, with several users challenging his estimates. One user suggested choosing government vaccines to reduce costs, while another calculated that the ₹3.8 lakh figure would be spread over 15 months rather than six months, with insurance covering approximately ₹1.4 lakh. The user explained that "the remaining ₹2.4 lakh is spread over a period of 15 months, that's effectively ₹15,000 per month. It's doable; there's no need to instil fear." Another user remarked that "not all toys are required in the first three months either; those expenses are spread throughout a child's development," suggesting that many toys are gifted and not required immediately. A third user commented "Haha, this is the real birth control," highlighting the financial challenges faced by young families.
According to Mint reports, Chakravarty emphasized the broader financial challenges faced by young families, stating "Imagine this on a single income. Imagine this without the support of your family. Imagine this doing in a city where a nanny for 24 hours costs more than an entry-level IT job." The content creator described his "Dad Diaries" series as documenting "the real side of modern parenthood in a metro city" and intended for new parents, expectant parents and those considering starting a family. As reported by Mint, Chakravarty added that "Welcome to episode 1 of Dad Diaries, where I help new or soon-to-be parents see the real side of modern parenthood," positioning the series as an educational tool for prospective parents.
