Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

I mean, in general, how much do they cost? leaving out daycare, how much do you spend on diapers, formula, clothing, etc? i mean, is it managable? we're hoping that when the time comes, somehow our parents will help us out with babysitting so that if we need daycare, it would be 2 days a week and not 5, but other than that, what is a good ball park? Thanks!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

I think it will definitley be manageable. Between clothes I got at the shower, and gifts I got after Angela was born, I think I maybe bought 3 t-shirts the whole first 9 months, I kid you not. Diapers are like $33 a case, which will last you maybe 2 weeks - BRU always has 15% coupons. I use the Pampers swaddlers/cruisers, there are less expensive diapers out there for sure. I spent about $200 on my medela pump in style advanced (on ebay) - so for the first six months, that's about all I had to spend to feed her. I definitley recommend the breast feeding! When I had to go to formula, I bought that on ebay too, paying about $10 a can rather than $11.99. You'll be fine!!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Seriously, I think she maybe hits us in the pocketbook for about $150.00 a month (not covering daycare and incidental expenses). Of course I blow much more than that because I can't resist buying her this or that. The actual costs of having her were much less than I anticipated. The shower helped tremendously and all of the gifts from co-workers, people who visited, my mother's friends, etc. This kid is forever getting something from somebody. I registered on every baby website possible; every formula company, diaper company, food company, etc. You are forever getting samples, coupons, freebies, etc. so there was alot of supplementing in there (providing you don't have a fussy baby or a baby with allergies to specific formula types - luckily she is like a goat and eats everything). Consignment shops are great for clothes because honestly they outgrow faster than they outwear most things. You can do it!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Diapers- $33/month at Costco

Wipes-$14/month at Costco

Formula (off of it now)-$90/month

That are the main expenses. When they are younger you usually spend most of gift money and other money on clothes as they don't need as many toys. Now that my dd is 6, she wants toys so we usually pay for the clothes.

Daycare is the most expense and we are lucky that my company covers 25% so that REALLY helps us out. We would not be able to afford it otherwise.

Good Luck, you will be fine!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

We pay about $200 per month for Nick - that includes his diapers, formula, wipes and jarred food...
My husband stays home with him, so we don't pay for daycare. Luckily we are the last of our siblings to have kids, so we get tons of clothes!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

wow...good to know!!! thanks ladies!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

When our son was a newborn between the pampers & formula it was around $ 200 - $250 a week ( mine was a big formula drinker)

I also got a TUN of stuff from my baby shower and had all the essentials, and a tun of clothes. I didnt buy 1 bath product for over a year b/c someone had made me a basket with all that stuff from BJ's and no matter how often I used it, it would run out!!

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Sam's club for Diapers-$27 a box.
Formula was cheapest at Sams' or BJ's about $18 for the HUGE can
Wipes Wal-mart Newborn- $5 a large bag
Clothes- Really depends on WHERE you shop, how quickly your child growns and what you get for your shower... Alex was a BIG baby and got a ton of clothes from his shower... I buy a lot of clothes from Target and Wal mart, and hit the outlets for Childrens Place and the Gap and Old navy. If you bargain shop, you can do it a lot less than most people.

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

For the most part I used Huggies, and I LOVED Target Diapers for alex when he was in 3&4's... very inexpensive...

Most new moms have to try several diapers and wipes to see what works best for their baby.

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Everyone seemed to nail the costs of everything and I just wanted to add that if you were working and are now at home with baby, your costs may even out. Ours did. The money we don't spend on lunches, gas, dry cleaning and an occaisional happy hour easily cover the necessities for Jack.

Edited to say I also make my own baby food. A couple of large sweet pototosfor example, cost a few bucks and will make enough food for over a month.

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

You may want to discuss your daycare hopes with your parents BEFORE you TTC. I have often heard of couples who hope that their parents can help them but to the grandparents that does not mean a weekly schedule of babysitting. Daycare 2X per week cost me $532 per month. Full time care is $1000-$1500, depending on where you go and what kind of daycare you chose.

And there are times that NOT working actual saves you money. You are in a different tax bracket and sometimes your costs do even out.

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Not everyone's 'not working income' and 'working income' equals out as in my situation. We work close to home, I eat lunch at home everyday and don't have to spend a lot on clothes.
Each person is different but I know in my situation, there is NOTHING to cut out.

Re: Hit me with reality! How much DO babies cost?

Trust me...my working income far surpasses my 'spending/SAHM' income...I work because I still make a lot more than it costs for me to work.