First Year Costs?

California Dreamin' · May 16, 2010

Hi,
I just got married April 24. I am going to Florida the end of October, and DH and I hope to start TTC when I get back mid-November. We want to save money, but just wondering what things we will need for a baby.

jgonz · May 17, 2010

There are so many things that seem "necessary" when you're pregnant... but really, the only things you need right away are somewhere for the baby to sleep (and if you co-sleep for the first few months at least (makes it much easier to nurse at night) then you don't even have to have a crib at first.

Diapers (either cloth or disposables). Depending on the time of year the baby will be born, you'll either need onsies for hotter weather, or full covering outfits for colder weather. Some basics like: baby wash, baby clippers, bulb syringe (a lot of hospitals just give you one, so you may not need to buy one), baby wipes, diaper cream (although your baby may respond to one or another brands better so there will be a lot of experimenting to do), some place to change the baby's diaper (I just use the crib), sling, a stroller for later on....

bliz · May 17, 2010

There are fairly few things that are needed for a baby.

There are a whole lot more things that people think they need.

We raised three kids to adulthood and never owned a playpen, walker, stroller, crib or bottle and never bought a single jar of baby food, or container of formula.

Don't skimp on prenatal vitamins and healthy eating for both of you before you conceive.

Second-hand clothes are great and can make a large wardrobe (necessary for the early years) affordable.

Two dozen British, terry cloth diapers held up through all 3 before I gave them away and they were much less expensive. (I do confess, I used paper when out of the house.) Buy, use, and reuse paper diaper liners.

ChildByGrace · May 17, 2010

I would say see what you can find second hand. When we had our first we only bought some clothes, the pram, high chair, bottles etc and things to do with bathing etc baby. And if someone we knew had been passing on a pram or high chair we would of had those second hand too.

California Dreamin' · May 17, 2010

Clothes are definitely a good idea to buy second hand, I've noticed there is even a baby consignment store here where you can buy/sell things! Kids grow so fast, I almost always had used clothes. I was thinking it would be really, really expensive to have kids and that we'd have to put it off for years but it's not looking so bad.

svl3p · May 18, 2010

we get almost all of our clothes used..either free from local clothing exchanges, or in bulk from ppl selling on craigslist, etc, or thrift stores..my son is almost 2.5 and the only new clothes we've bought him are socks a couple of times..my daughter just turned one and we've never bought her any new clothes..get anything used that you can, except for carseat and crib mattress, since old mattresses can sag and make gaps in the edges of the crib...a new baby doesnt HAVE to be expensive, and you can get nice stuff even brand name if that's important to you, used..making baby food is really easy too, and you can even make wipes from paper towels (just google for the "recipe" that are cheaper, or you can use washcloths if you really want to save the money..when it comes to stuff like diaper rash cream..the best stuff i ever used was mixing zinc and vaseline

blythe_ann · May 18, 2010

The only thing that costs a lot that you can't really avoid is having the baby, unless your insurance is awesome. It's expensive to be pregnant, have a kid, and depending on how perfect the birth goes, the price goes up and up the more blips happen, so I've heard, anyway. So call your insurance and get the skinny on EXACTLY what you will be responsible for, etc.
I know I will want to buy things that aren't really needed. Like, cute maternity clothes. LOL

California Dreamin' · May 19, 2010

blythe_ann said:
The only thing that costs a lot that you can't really avoid is having the baby, unless your insurance is awesome. It's expensive to be pregnant, have a kid, and depending on how perfect the birth goes, the price goes up and up the more blips happen, so I've heard, anyway. So call your insurance and get the skinny on EXACTLY what you will be responsible for, etc.
I know I will want to buy things that aren't really needed. Like, cute maternity clothes. LOL

It wouldn't cost anything because I live in Canada.

blythe_ann · May 19, 2010

Awesome!

weliveintheforest · May 20, 2010

A baby doesn't have to cost much, but taking the year off work is expensive, even if you get EI, and it will change your lifestyle, which may or may not be more expensive. I'd plan to spend about 1000*+ on baby stuff and 500+ on maternity clothes, nursing bras etc.

You can get almost everything for cheap or free, but don't skimp on diaper covers, nursing bras, and a carseat. People will want to buy you a lot of things, like a stroller and bassinet and little baby clothes.

*my numbers don't include disposables or formula - those cost a lot but can be avoided.

California Dreamin' · May 20, 2010

weliveintheforest said:
A baby doesn't have to cost much, but taking the year off work is expensive, even if you get EI, and it will change your lifestyle, which may or may not be more expensive. I'd plan to spend about 1000*+ on baby stuff and 500+ on maternity clothes, nursing bras etc.

You can get almost everything for cheap or free, but don't skimp on diaper covers, nursing bras, and a carseat. People will want to buy you a lot of things, like a stroller and bassinet and little baby clothes.

*my numbers don't include disposables or formula - those cost a lot but can be avoided.

I don't work, and haven't since January 2007.
Thanks for the info.

weliveintheforest · May 20, 2010

That is helpful, if you are already fine without a second income you will have much less adjustment to do!

TCat · May 24, 2010

Two things that were given to us at baby showers but that I would absolutely buy for any further babies were 1. a diper wipe warmer and 2. a microwavable bean bag.

Yes, neither is necessary but boy they made life so much nicer for mom and baby.
The wipe warmer was wonderful, baby complained less about cold wipes on her butt and cleaning her face so it made changing her more comfortable. The bean bag was heated in the microwave then placed on the mattress for a few minutes to warm it up before placing kiddo in the crib. Both my kids snuggled right down to sleep in the warm spot without complaint

Oh and a baby swing, absolutey essential in my book! Got two at a second hand store and used the heck out of them!

tessas212 · Jun 6, 2010

We tried to breastfeed, we cloth diapered, both of which lowered the costs DRAMATICALLY. We didn't have to go the store for disposable diapers or formula.

Next baby will hopefully be breastfed for a year, and we're going to go diaper FREE =] We'll keep cloth diapers on hand, but I plan to do infant potty learning mostly because of the benefits, but it also means saving money too. We'll home birth, so THAT will be expensive out of pocket.

As for other things, we got a LOT of hand me down clothing. We got toys from people. We shopped on Craigslist. We got ALL our baby supplies for less than $200 - bassinet, bouncer, exersaucer, changing table, made my own cloth diapers, dresser that we repainted, etc, etc. But, I also didn't buy maternity clothing or bras. I made it happen with little to no money. It's doable. You don't need to be rich to have a baby.

California Dreamin' · Jun 6, 2010

We are trying to decide now if we should go on a trip or have a baby... or both. We really want to go to England, and I was invited to a wedding June 2012. I would definitely like to have a baby before then. How hard is traveling with babies?

ChildByGrace · Jun 7, 2010

I think it's as hard as you make it. I've travelled several times with babies/children. First time was with a 7 month old-he slept most of the time. We then took him away at 14 months and 2-no problems either time. Then I took my 2.5year old and 4month old away-again no problems. In my experience babies are easier than children who are older and active but no old enough to read etc.
Iro taking stuff with you-we managed with the bare minimum. Anything that I could buy where we were going, ie diapers, baby food, I didn't bother taking with me. The worst was taking the bottle sterilizer! But honestly there will be things you can borrow over here so needent bring with you.

Where abouts in England are you coming to?

California Dreamin' · Jun 7, 2010

ChildByGrace said:
I think it's as hard as you make it. I've travelled several times with babies/children. First time was with a 7 month old-he slept most of the time. We then took him away at 14 months and 2-no problems either time. Then I took my 2.5year old and 4month old away-again no problems. In my experience babies are easier than children who are older and active but no old enough to read etc.
Iro taking stuff with you-we managed with the bare minimum. Anything that I could buy where we were going, ie diapers, baby food, I didn't bother taking with me. The worst was taking the bottle sterilizer! But honestly there will be things you can borrow over here so needent bring with you.

Where abouts in England are you coming to?

It would be Nottinghamshire if we go. DH said he would be fine traveling with a baby...

ChildByGrace · Jun 7, 2010

Cool - not somewhere I've been.

California Dreamin' · Jun 7, 2010

I've always wanted to go to England so it seemed like a great idea!

ChildByGrace · Jun 9, 2010

I thinks it's always great to take the chance of going somewhere different is the chance arrives.
If you do come I'd try to come for as long as you can and maybe go to a couple if different places

First Year Costs?

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