The Child Development Account (CDA), explained
LifeSG says Singapore citizen children born on or after 1 April 2027 get a S$5,000 First Step Grant in their Child Development Account (CDA). It says the Government also matches each dollar you save in the CDA, up to S$5,000, and the account stays open until the end of the year the child turns 16.
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
Born on or after 1 April 2027: a S$5,000 grant and up to S$5,000 of matching
LifeSG says Singapore citizen children born on or after 1 April 2027 get a one-off S$5,000 First Step Grant, paid into the Child Development Account once it is opened. It is for approved expenses such as preschool and healthcare, not cash. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
LifeSG says the Government matches each dollar you save in the Child Development Account, up to S$5,000, for children born on or after 1 April 2027. The account stays open until the end of the year the child turns 16. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
Born before 1 April 2027: the grant stays, and the matching cap becomes S$5,000 on 1 October 2027
This is what MSF and LifeSG say for a Singapore citizen child whose parents are married.
| Child | First Step Grant | Matching cap until 30 September 2027 | Matching cap from 1 October 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First child | S$5,000 | S$4,000 | S$5,000 |
| Second child | S$5,000 | S$7,000 | S$5,000 |
| Third or later child | S$10,000 (born from 18 February 2025) | S$9,000 (third or fourth child) or S$15,000 (fifth or later) | S$5,000 |
Made for Families says a first or second child gets a S$5,000 First Step Grant in the Child Development Account. LifeSG says children born before 1 April 2027 keep this existing amount. Source: MSF (Made for Families)
Made for Families says third and later Singapore citizen children born on or after 18 February 2025 get a S$10,000 First Step Grant, paid about two weeks after the CDA is opened. LifeSG says births before 1 April 2027 keep this amount. Source: MSF (Made for Families)
30 September 2027 is the last day of the old matching caps
LifeSG says children born from 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2027 keep their existing co-matching cap until 30 September 2027. All caps become S$5,000 from 1 October 2027, which is higher for a first child (S$4,000 now) and lower for later children. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
Born before 1 April 2027: choose POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB when you enrol at birth registration
LifeSG says for a Singapore citizen child born in Singapore, the Baby Bonus application is part of birth registration on LifeSG. Parents must be lawfully married. LifeSG says enrolled children move to the SG Child Support Package automatically in April 2027. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
LifeSG says you choose a bank when you enrol in the Baby Bonus Scheme during birth registration: POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB.
Cash payments go to the account linked to PayNow, not the CDA
LifeSG says package payouts go to the bank account linked to the child's PayNow ID (NRIC or birth certificate number). It asks parents to set this up before 1 April 2027, and not to link it to the Child Development Account. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
The SG Child Support Package, explained · Deadlines after your baby is born · Getting developmental support for a child (CDA money can help with fees)
Not yet confirmed
These details were not published on the official pages when we checked them on 29 September 2026. We will update this page when they are.
- LifeSG has not yet said what happens to matching already paid above S$5,000 before 1 October 2027. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
- Whether parents must be married to qualify for the SG Child Support Package has not been published yet. Source: LifeSG (MSF)
Sources
- LifeSG (MSF): SG Child Support Package
- MSF (Made for Families): Baby Bonus Scheme
- MSF (Made for Families): Large Families Scheme
- LifeSG (MSF): Baby Bonus Scheme
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
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