how much does a baby cost?
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
I recently found out I was pregnant and am planning (more like fighting.. my parents are working hard to change my mind) to keep the baby. I’m only nineteen but have the support of my boyfriend as well. I’m trying to work out how we will afford everything once the baby is born. I think I have found insurance that will cover most of our hospital costs and the birth but I was wondering if anyone could give me a number on just how much you spend every… month? week? even the first year.. Just how much does a baby cost?
I’d love stories/estimates/the things you had to buy after your baby was born… everything helps! 
It’s averaged out that between food, furniture, clothing, and diapers the average parent spends a minimum of 9000 the first year of the childs life. That does not include Dr’s bills or toys. Needless to say if neither parent is working it’s next to impossible to raise a child. Without my families help we would not have been able to keep my son because we wouldn’t have been able to afford a place for him to sleep or clothes for him to wear. Babies are not cheap.
I’ll be honest
Disposable diapers per month for the first few months = A bit less than $40 a month
Cloth Diapers = From what I’ve heard, for a one time $300 start up cost thing, you can get tons of cloth diapers that will last quite a good while (possibly til baby is potty trained?)
Breastmilk = Free
Clothes = You could probably get some for less than $50. They may not be absolutely adorable but clothes none-the-less. They grow out of each size fast, so you should buy big to give yourself more time to get more.
Co-Sleeping = Also Free
After baby is a bit older you have to make or buy baby food. If you cook food correctly, then you can safely just share big people food with them when they are ready (and, of course, continue breastfeeding). If you buy baby food, fruits and veggies are about 50 cents a jar and meats are about $1 (at least here, where I live). By 8 months they tend to eat about 3 jars a day (or more).
You might want a few blankets = $10
Car seat = $75 … The Costco Scenera is a convertible carseat. Rear Facing from 5 to 35 lbs (I think) and Forward Facing from 20 to 40 lbs (also, not completely sure …). A convertible Carseat will last the baby longer than an infant “bucket” seat.
…….
The baby, themselves, can be quite inexpensive. What is expensive is rent, electricity, water, etc.
Then, there is babys insurance (if you don’t qualify for Medicaid or another form of government help). If you don’t have some kind of insurance, doctors appointments are even more expensive.
If you are determined, you can do it. But it is hard.
well depending on who you know you can get but with only needing to buy the necessities.personally many of my friends and family have recently had children and I was able to get most their stuff, free. On top of that I also have been getting help from 2 different organization that help mothers in need. we are also enrolled in WIC.
I managed to get the everything but a crib and stroller free and those I also got second hand, for cheap on craigslist.
Keira eat about 12 cans of formula a month, WIC pays for 10, so I only have to buy $24 worth a month at the moment. With out WIC each can is about $12 and would cost almost $150 a month.
we do need to but diapers, I get a box of pampers(about 80-90 diapers depending on size) a month a box goes for about $20 at walmart.
So basically if you can find other people who’ve had babies recently and get stuff second hand through them or craigslist it can be cheaper .
Raising a child is only as expensive as you make it. Most of the baby products that stores market are luxuries, not essentials. You can raise a baby with out a crib or diapers if you really need to (and I know people who have, not because they cant afford to, but because they enjoy raising their baby differently)
Breastfeeding is free. I only know these figures in British pounds, but I guess things cost about the same in the US if you do the conversion (which i dont know how to do :S) Formula feeding costs around £900 over the first 12 months of a babys life.
cloth diapers save around £1500 during babies first year. You can get set up for birth to potty training for around £200. I also use cloth baby wipes, which get chucked in the washer with the nappies and save around £250 a year. I’m not sure if youv ever seen the modern ones, but cloth diapers are CUTE!
Prams etc can be bought second hand, or not at all. I prefer to use a sling which costs about the same as a cheap stroller and lasts birth to toddlerhood. Or you can make your own.
Everything bar cot mattress and carseat can be bought second hand. Look for things in the sales too.
All Tobys clothes are either hand-ons or bought in the sale. Up until he was 6months old, he cost me maybe a fiver a week to keep? Now, at 2 and a half, hes a bit more expensive because he needs food, but still, not as expensive as I thought.
