Newborn Costs??

Well, you have it made....people are the ones who make babies expensive, I don't agree with the cost per year only because I spend VERY LITTLE on my 2 and 1 year old. $100 goes a long way at walmart or target. I breastfed my daughter until she was 6 months and saved so much money. Daycares are probably the biggest cost you will come across when referring to kiddos so if that is eliminated you have it made honey!!:)

Planned Parenthood says that a baby averages about $199 a month. I'm also a military wife and there are somethings that are paid for but there's so much that isn't. If you haven't already you can go to Navy Relief (or whatever branch you're in) it's part off fleet and family support center. And do a "Baby Finaces" budget overhaul. You can get baby tylonol from the pediatricain, but it's a tiny bottle and doesn't last very long. And you can get rash creams and such from them too. Just ask and you can pick them up at the miltary pharmacy. But baby soap and shampoo, daipers, bottles, formula if you should need it, toys, bibs, and the everyday stuff you and your husband use such as laundry soap and utilities go up in cost because you've increased your family size, and you end up doing WAY more laundry. Congratulations on your soon to be new little one.

I am not sure I can assign an exact dollar amount...just start setting aside as much as you can because life always has something unexpected. It sounds like you have a great foundation.

However, as a first time mom myself--and divorced to boot AND away from my family--I can tell you to stick to the basics until your little one arrives. I received items from my registry that I should have returned because they are still in the box--like the shopping cart cover that I never needed to use because I always wore her in a sling or carrier.

If you plan on nursing, join a La Leche League group now. It will help head off any problems that are certain to arise during your nursing relationship. You will also form some bonds ahead of your baby's arrival so you know you'll have someone to call when your baby is screaming and can't get him/her to take your nipple!

I loved breastfeeding my daughter...it made her so mobile! I was also working full-time and pumped. Get a good electric double pump if you don't feel like you want to make the full nursing commitment, but still want to her to have the breastmilk (and maintain your supply).

Formula can be a big added expense if, for some reason, you are unable to breastfeed.

If you decide to start stocking up on diapers when you see them on sale, make sure you tape the receipt to the box and know the return policy. We had problems with fit or rash depending on the brand. I cloth diapered while I was on leave, but then LOVED the Pampers Swaddlers. We now use LUVS and those have worked fine for much less price.

Hi S.. Congrats on the new baby! Your life is fixing to change indefinitely!! Well, I have to say the 1st year really didn't cost a whole lot (excluding the fact that I couldn't go shopping without buying her clothes, even though she already had plenty :) ). Breastfeeding cuts the cost of formula (which is expensive) & at 6 months when we started feeding her, I made her food, sooooo much cheaper than buying pre-packaged baby food, & healthier & tastier too! The biggest expense was the diapers. I wished I would have had it in me to use cloth. They are a little pricey at 1st, but in the end less expensive than disposables. Good luck & have fun!
God bless!
H. B

Congrats S....While I was expecting my children I got the walmart, babiesrus and target cards and with each paycheck I put $25-50.00 on each of them. So you can see which store you want to buy from the most and start setting aside money for baby needs on. I also brought a pack or two of diapers and wipes each payckeck. By the time I had my kids I didnt have to buy diapers til they were wearing a size 3. ( I got different sizes) As my kids were born in June and July so I always got a bargain on their clothes because of the clearance sales (just be careful, some kids grow fast) Good luck. Hope this helps

Hey S.,

Are you at Fort Bliss? That's were my family and I are. I have 3 little ones my oldest son 35 months, daughter 20 months and baby boy 6 months, we are also a military family so here is where our budget sits.

Yes all the medical stuff will be paid for except. I had to readjust my budget for childrens tylonol, supositories, butt cream and special soap. Every mom hopes their kids will be healthy, but if you budget $30/month for these things you should be safe.

Diaper budget (shopping at PX/Commisary) We have to buy the name brand diapers because of allergies, so we spend about $80/month/kid on diapers. A little less on the baby, because there are so many more in a pack, but you can expect 10-12 diapers a day, and then what brand you would like and go from there.

Baby food (6 months on) we budgett $10/week for the baby and $22/week each for the older 2. Mostly they eat smaller portions of what we are having, but I try to buy healthy snacks just for them and really with the both of them we are only adding an extra 1/2 portion to what we already make.

Activities for you and the tiny one. around 5 months we started once a month outings to places like the zoo and parks. We budget $50/month for the family for just plain fun.

Toys/Games for the little one. They seem to outgrow things quickly and we always look for nice second hand things. we budgett $15/month for all 3 for something new for them each month. It goes a long way at thrift stores and they can get 3-4 new things each. We also sell/donate their old stuff that doesn't get played with much.

Don't forget to budget a date night as well. Being a stay at home mom is nice ( I really like it) but you will need to get a break once in a while. If for no other reason than to be sure if something happens and you need someone else to watch your little bundle, it won't be such a culture shock since they have always had only you. We budget about $40/month.

Thats all I can think of for now. If you ever want to chat just let me know. We just moved to El Paso from Pennsylvania and haven't had a chance to make many friends yet.

:)
R.

Haven't looked at other responses but one thing that saved us a ton of money was having natural child births. Our first was at a hospital and we didn't use an epidural and didn't have a c-section, and was around $8,000 (this was in '95 and insurance covered most of it) They estimated more like $10,000+ if we used more invasive measures. We found really good midwives and were able to have homebirths (sometimes insurance covered most, sometimes not) and the price dropped to $2,500 and under. Look for a certified nurse midwife...all pre and post natal visits were included in this. The lab tests weren't always but not excessively expensive.
I read one book that suggested baby's first crib could be a drawer from a dresser set near the bed (I'd be afraid of stepping on the little guy if too close), but baby slept better at first with mama in main bed...no extra cost.

You'll need a carseat and baby buggy, a baby sling or front carrier, a few toys and board books to chew on...eventually a crib to put baby into...you won't always get enough sleep with baby in bed with you...a pack'n'play is always nice after baby becomes mobile, if you plan on getting anything done...but before this it's easy to just have baby nearby on the floor with pillows around...if no siblings are around to step on him/her :) Diaper bags are nice, but the older I get the more I just use a tote bag, and throw a couple diapers, wipes, puddle pad, bib, change of clothes, my keys and wallet....
cloth diapers work well as drool and spit up cloths...some sort of rocker or big chair with arms help a nursing mom and a pillow to tuck under baby while nursing is helpful too...You may need special little pads to tuck into your nursing bra to help with milk leaking...(I didn't need this much after first baby) Lasinoh (in the tiniest tube you can find for nipple care...sorry...but you asked :) Keeping dry helps this too and is cheaper :)

Diaper rash cream...Balmex is great though a little more expensive...worth every penny...keeping baby dry to prevent this is a lot cheaper... A little grooming kit, that has a comb/hairbrush...onsies and t-shirts that snap...Look at half-price bookstore for books on What to Expect...or better yet LIBRARY!
OK I really got carried away...most of the things above are things people love to give in baby showers. Will you be having one?

Diapers are expensive lately! I just paid around $40.00 for off brand at a wholesale club...its a huge box...I'm hoping it will last 6-12 weeks. That's for my 20 month old, younger babies use more diapers and need to be changed more frequently. I use a puddle pad under baby and forgo the diaper changer.
Nursing is a great cost cutter...but remember you may have an increased (slightly) food bill for yourself...you get mighty hungry nursing little guys and need more calories than the typical diet to produce milk.
Find mom friends with older (and hopefully well dressed children) and help organize clothing swaps. Then keep it going for moms you meet that have babies younger than you. We meet at a park, put our clothes out on sheets and let everybody take what they need. The next season we do the same. Helps cut down on costs and we don't have to spend time storing clothes that get eaten by moths in the attic. Sure blesses us and others.
Sorry for so much info...hope i didn't over do...Have a Happy Easter!

We shop at Sam's club and buy diapers and formula. The bulk costs are much cheaper. The thing I was supprized about was shoes there expensive for the amount of time they wear them. Our son was a winter baby and we went threw socks again because he grew quickly. Shampoohs, bath products. We have only bought about five tubes of diaper rash cream. Toys for the bath tub, bath tub seat, dreft laundary soap( that one i had no idea about) teething rings, theres little feeders with a net around it. I also planned on breast feeding but never produced anything...take a class...so we ended up having to buy formula. I find in our town walmart has cheaper clothes than the thrift stores!!! Compair prices at your army store.

Do you live in base housing? DO they provide utilities if you do? You need to factor in the increased use of water and electricity/gas for the laundry. Babies create alot of laundry. You will need to factor in diapers, wipes, diaper rash medicine, infant tylenol/motrin, etc. This isn't about money but a little tip for you after the baby comes. Make sure you start getting ready to go somewhere 30 minutes before you normally would. That is the amount of time it will take you to get the baby ready to go. For the 1st month, I never made it anywhere on time. This is one of those things people forget to tell you in all the advice you will receive. Good luck to you and don't forget to factor in the "oops" amount into your budget. Babies can come up with some unexpected stuff. CB

I personally don't think babies cost that much. Aside from medical costs, or formula, there is not a whole lot a baby 'needs'. There are a lot of products in stores but you don't know if your baby will even like them such as a bassinet, swing, etc. Both my kids have ended up in our bed. If you breastfeed its great and free. You can find thrifty ways to get things like on craigslist, resale shops. For big items I ask my parents on birthdays and Christmas(they ask what I want). Diapers do get pricey but you can buy store brands or luvs and it saves quite a bit. Creams and soaps I got so much from my shower that I have not had to buy any yet. Tylenol and mylecon I have. This is for the first 6 months, then you have to start buying food. Now I do spend tons of money on my kids (ugh) but they are not necessarily needs. Toys and cloths I buy at a resale store I love or have lots of hand me downs. I buy my son organic food. Things like sippy cups, a backpack, holidays there is always something. Taking them places chuckecheese, etc. Shoes are expensive, my son has extra wide feet and can only wear stride rites. Invest in a good carrier, they are priceless at soothing a fussy baby. I didn't factor in the cost of pictures, taking them to have pictures is expensive but priceless I am glad I did that with my son throughout his first year and I am now doing so with my daughter. I have also had to buy myself clothing cause my body has changed so much. Use coupons, I can't keep up with food coupons but I use them for activities, pictures, diapers, clothing, lots of stuff. Don't fall for gimmicks, pay attention to what you buy baby juice is the same as regular juice, you can make your own food, you don't have to buy the supreme diapers, generic brands do work, and on and on I could have saved a lot of money if I had payed more attention. Congratulations!!

First congratulations....But I am confused...Are you in the military or are you out of the military? Because in your letter you said both..As a former military wife of long, long ago...I wasn't as prepared then as you seem to be now..I think any new addition to the family is rough and with the economy the way it is now..if you are in the military you should be fine. The diaper situation is going to be expensive. But both of my daughters clipped coupons for their diapers and it helped them considerably..I also think you should be able to apply for and get WIC (Women, Infants and Children) for the first 5 yrs. of the child. Should you get accepted, this would help you considerably in the formula area should you feel the need to go in that direction. I also know that they also help with the purchases of milk, cheese, and so on once the child is no longer breast feeding or they feel the baby should not be on formula anymore.
I know how tough the move to a new city must have been for you. I just moved to a new city myself last year...I left all my friends, my daughters and all of my grandchildren. I lived there for 35 yrs. So, I understand the hardship there.
But I think you will be fine. Try the coupon clipping for the diapers and the baby wipes also. You would be surprised. You might also want to sign up with Pampers.com and I do believe there are a few other websites out there for expecting mothers. Plus there is a free magazine you can get also.
I had a daycare at one time...it was to babysit my grandchildren. I went online and found things to do with them and it didn't cost anything at all except for ink for my printer maybe once a month, printer paper, crayons for the kiddos markers for myself. I tried to find stuff for their age, and then printed them, put them on cardboard I saved from pads of paper, colored them and cut them out, and then put clear Contact paper on them. My youngest is 5 and his Blue's Clues dominos are still in great shape. We used these as Match the Picture Dominos. I printed coloring pages and put them in a folder, made matching games from old calendars and so on. I know this is a little early, but you might want to start now on getting prepared for the second year of their life. These are just some suggestions.
Try making a mobile for the babys' crib.
Sorry, I got off track here, and definitely got carried away. Just some suggestions how you can save some money in the long run..
But congratulations agin, and you will be fine!

Hi, have you thought about cloth diapers? They are a little expensive to start, but in the long run are much cheaper, and if you have a washer & dryer at home it doesn't take long to run a load through the washer. You could get one package of ddisposable diaper for when you are away from home so you don't have to drag along the cloth, so that would make it lots easier & a lot less expensive in the long run.

Good luck with your coming baby, they are the most precious gift from God you could ever ask for. W.

hi, i breastfed for the first six months but had to supplement with formula at about 4 months..so factor in the formula just incase. and it is like $12-$15 a jar, depending on which one is good for your baby...and then comes food around 4-6 months depending on your baby..and not to mention diapers which can add up too. my boy is almost 8 months and we have a bugdet of $50 a week and most weeks we go over, i just have to rotate diapers and food week to week, and not try to get everything at once or it would be pushing $100. hope that helps.

Hi S.

I know I am a little late in responding, but I wanted to let you know I read thru a few of your responses; not all..... Anyway, if you are pretty much set with clothing for the new arrival & a family member/friend wants to or has yet to throw a shower for you, suggest they throw a diaper/wipe & toiletries shower. Everyone brings diapers (in different sizes) & wipes or toiletries as the gifts. I had that for my third child & loved it!! It helped tremendously since I too pretty much had everything from my two other kids! Good luck!

Hi S.,

Congratulations! I would say you have things well in hand if you have clothes, some hats, socks, receiving blankets, and some old cloth diapers for burp cloths. I would recommend if you have the $$--a good sling (the Moby wrap is great for newborn to about 6 months and you can find them used on ebay, thebabywearer.com, and diaperswappers.com), cloth diapers which will save you money in the long run if you can afford them upfront (if you decide to do this post a specific question about them so you can hear what the mamas say about diapers). Also, have a little money set aside for a good lactation consultant and look up your local La Leche League meeting in case you have some initial trouble with breastfeeding. It can be hard to start, but if you get a little bit of help it makes a huge difference and will save you sooo much money over formula and bottles and the medical bills from having a child that gets sick more often. Others recommend a swing or vibrating chair--my little one wouldn't stay in one long, but you can find them on craigslist for a pretty good price, so you might want to have that. For tummy time when they are a few months old you might want an activity mat, but it's not necessary at all. My little one loved watching the mobile over the crib, which gave me precious time to run to the bathroom. LOL!

Good luck! The biggest thing your baby needs is YOU. If you are there and responding with love to your child the material things really aren't going to be a big deal. You'll also get to know your baby and have a good idea of some things he/she will enjoy after a while, so you can always look then. Make sure you have enough support (meals, laundry, grocery shopping, etc should be done by someone else for the first month if possible), so you have time to be with your baby and get to know him/her.

Blessings,
G.

It's so hard to quantify a question like this because even though you feel like you may have everything you need, inevitably, there is something you have forgotten about or didn't realize you need (or might just really want) until the baby gets here. This is especially true for your first. Diapers are pretty expensive (I think they are like $40 per box now for the huge ones at Babies R Us), wipes, doctor appointments for the baby (they go about 6-8 times in the first year just for well checkups). If you breastfeed, this will help to keep down your costs since you won't need to buy formula. I would say that you would need to add at least $200 per month to your budget just to be on the safe side. Then, after 6 months comes baby food! Although it doesn't seem like it's expensive (each jar is pretty cheap), it does add up when they eat like 6 jars per day like my son does. I have a 10 month old and a 3 year old and I breastfed both of them and it still seems like they suck up all of our money somehow! :-)

Congrats and best wishes on your delivery.

I don't have a hard number to give you, but I do have a couple of things to consider:

In our experience, name brand baby wipes are way too soft to clean dirty bottoms effectively. Babies R Us's store brand (Especially for Baby) is our fave, and they come by the case. Budget for waaay more wipes than you think you'll need. They are useful for so much more than diaper changes.

I nursed for 17 months, and remember: breastfeeding is not free. You need to factor in a pump, storage bags, and bottles. Though the only continuing expense is storage bags. You will be about desperate to get away from baby from time to time, and your spouse and others will cherish the opportunity to feed baby. You can probably rent a pump from the hospital, but depending on how long you want to nurse, it may be cheaper in the long run to buy - check consignment stores. A used pump won't have a warranty, and you will have to by the nipple shields and replacement tubing (for sterility), but it may be cheaper to do this than to buy the whole set brand-new. Also, instead of using breast pads for leaks, you can cut panty liners to fit into your bra, depending again on what deals/coupons you can find where. Leaking will not last more than a few months for most moms - your breasts will adjust to baby's schedule, once baby has one. However, DO NOT skimp on lanolin cream. You will be much more comfortable - just go ahead and buy the Lasinoh; it does cost more, but it works better than the Gerber. I promise - been there, ouch.

Consumables to factor in: baby Tylenol, baby soap (though you'll use less of this than you imagine), baby toothpaste as well as a toothbrush (you need to start brushing as soon as baby starts cutting teeth), diaper rash cream (something you'll hopefully also use less of than you think), Orajel or the teething comforter of your choice, the gentle detergent of your choice (when we had our baby, Dreft was cheaper by the load than Woolite; I used it for my delicate washing as well as for baby's things - you will use MORE of this than you imagine), stain remover. Some folks also use gas tabs, saline drops, and ear drops, but we used them rarely, if ever.

BATTERIES. We were amazed at how many infant things required batteries; the swing, the baby monitor, and the play mat were the big ones. Not to mention the camera. Invest in a battery charger and good rechargeable batteries. More expensive at first, but you will be replacing batteries a lot as baby grows (and as toys become more sophisticated).

And, of course, things get lost. Socks, teething rings, that sort of thing.

BTW, how's your long-distance calling plan?

Best wishes!

Honestly, there are very few things that a baby "needs." Food, diapers, clothes, a place to sleep, and a car seat are probably the most basic things. If you are nursing, yea you. It's free, and it's better for your baby than anything else. Once the baby is eating "real" food, then make it yourself. I second the suggestion to borrow or buy "Super Baby Food." That book is a tremendous resource on how to provide your child with healthy, easy to make, home-made food. If you can, use cloth diapers. Over the course of the two and a half years, cloth diapers are way less expensive than disposables (besides being better for the environment and the baby), but that's a hard sell if you're not committed. As for clothes, it sounds like your set. I take hand me downs and go to the thrift store since babies wear things for about 3 months before outgrowing them. No sense in paying top dollar for new baby clothes that won't be used long. Cribs are great but not necessary. When my son was 9 months old, we moved out of state for a one year time period. We didn't want to move all our furniture so we just took the Pack and Play, and my son slept in that for the year. Worked fine for everyone concerned. The car seat is essential if you have a car. Do not get a used one unless you know the person from whom you are getting it.

Good luck!!!! Enjoy your baby.

With my first child, the expenses were a little greater. Things like bouncy chairs, the baby laundry detergents, toys, strollers, etc. were not things I considered in my budget. My goal was also to avoid paying for food/formula for the first six months, but she got sick and for a full month I had to put her on predigested (and also expensive) formula, so I was not prepared for those hits. I also had to buy a pump and things to go with it so that I could continue to make milk during that time. It ended up being very helpful for trips, so I could pump milk and use bottles on long car trips later, though. Also, things like baby bath soap, baby bathtubs, hats when I took her outside, jackets for cold days, and she was born with a full head of hair, so she was very young when she needed hair ties and hair detangle spray. I realized with my second child that we didn't need to spend so much and I made toys using stuff I have around the house and I learned to make my own detangle spray. I also started using detergent that is free of additives for all our laundry and I wash the baby's clothes with everything else. I learned to make my own baby slings, and I already had some stuff from the first baby. So, my advice is to plan on having some unexpected expenses to make your life easier, especially in the first 6 months when you are adjusting to your new life. However, I wish someone had told me that a lot of the stuff we think we need as new moms can be done simply, easily, and A LOT more inexpensively if you do it yourself. (Oh, and I HIGHLY recommend getting the Super Baby Food book. My library has it, so check there first, too! The book has great money saving ideas, along with baby safe cleaning ideas, in addition to helping you make your own baby food which is so much better for the baby and a lot more inexpensive!) A lot of stuff you can get at the baby shower and will be a one time expense, but you will find that after the baby arrives, you will realize that your needs are not what you expected. For example, I asked for a stroller, but found that I didn't really use a stroller until the baby was over a year old, and I liked baby carriers much better! Congratulations and good luck!

This may be considered a luxury... but you may want to start a college fund for your future graduate. Even if you contribute $25, $50, $100/month to a 529 plan.... it adds up ALOT if you begin at birth. Just a thought for the future :-)