|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
BABY BLUES - 7/11/2010 1:05:15 AM
|
|
|
G-ROD
Posts: 123
Joined: 12/23/2005
Status: offline
|
How much does a newborn baby cost on average during first 6 months?
_____________________________
www.soundclick.com/galatians
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/11/2010 9:59:48 AM
|
|
|
3cappuccinosmom
Posts: 4042
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Average means very little. Babycenter's calculator tells my my baby's cost will be $5000+ (after telling me what I will buy). The year my oldest son was born, my dh made $11000 at a factory, so obviously we didn't spend that much.  Taking out everything they assume will be bought (because very little is necessary, and a bunch of it would be completely useless to me, and $30 for a mobile, are you kidding me????), and checking only what we actually used, at the prices we actually paid, it's more like $1,000, but something is wrong with the caculator because the numbers I put in don't even equal that much.
Actual costs for us:
Hospital costs--from the birth. Whatever your insurance doesn't cover.
Food: Breastmilk is free.  Especially when you don't buy a lot of paraphernalia. Feeding costs for my babies up to six months are $0, unless you count the food I eat in order to make milk.
Clothes: I didn't have to buy a single new item of clothing for my kids until my oldest turned 7, and even then it was 2 items, on sale. We recieved masses of handmedowns and learned the art of thrift shopping. For the first six months, clothing costs were 0. After that, it was $10 here and there, probably not even that much on a monthly basis.
Diapers: Probably the biggest expense for us. If you're watchful with coupons and sales, you can get packages for $6-8, so maybe $50-60/month. You can also go with cloth and that would be an initial outlay of maybe $200, but then you're not having to buy every month.
Medical: Baby was on insurance, so our cost was mostly the insurance premiums. Every once in a while a little infant tylenol was needed, but that's minimal
Utilities: The only noticeable change was our water usage, having to do with the amount of laundry a baby makes. Even so it wasn't a huge jump.
"Stuff": Mostly unnecessary, but the largest part of the "cost of having a baby". We found that we were given a great deal of all that, found other items at way below market price, and got creative with other thing. A couple yards of fabric made my baby carriers, and a yard-sale dresser combined with some wooden cutouts and bright paint made a nursery dresser for under $20.
But again, averages mean nothing. Some people who are way more frugal than me might end up spending more because breastfeeding isn't possible for them, or there is a medical problem, or they're in circumstances where thrift stores aren't available.
_____________________________
 Moo
"Yup, I'm in agreement with Maggie here on all of this" Manda, April 2010
The Ballad of Bad Biruk
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/11/2010 10:08:52 AM
|
|
|
peace77
Posts: 521
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
It can vary a lot.
If you use 2nd hand furniture & clothes, cloth diapers, and breastfeed the baby, the cost is minimal. You can get nearly all of what you need from Freecycle, Craiglist's free section, family and friends. More items can be had cheaply at garage / yard sales or consignment stores.
You do have to make sure the crib is safe. You may want to get a new car seat.
You will have to pay the doctor bill (whatever your insurance doesn't pay).
If you want lots of fancy new things, the cost could be quite high.
Don't worry. God provides.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/11/2010 10:27:23 PM
|
|
|
Sideways
Posts: 3283
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Agree that the cost can vary widely. By all means try to shop around for sales and second hand, but don't compromise on safety (car seat and probably a crib). Breastfeeding may or may not work, but you still need breast pads at the least.
There's a million factors. My brother was born with a heart condition and he was in the doctor's office at least once a month his first year with pneumonia and various infections (yes, he was breastfed), and he had a lot of expensive medications. He was a pricey baby.
_____________________________
Well behaved women rarely make the history books.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/12/2010 8:31:20 AM
|
|
|
zoebob
Posts: 7123
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
Status: offline
|
quote:
but you still need breast pads at the least.
Not necessarily
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/12/2010 10:41:19 AM
|
|
|
GregandJenny
Posts: 485
Joined: 2/16/2006
From: Near Seattle Washington
Status: offline
|
G-rod you can ask me in 6 months, my little just came home last night. But we haven't spent anything except we bought wipes and diapers (just to feel like we were parents) because things have been gifted to us or bought second hand. Like these ladies say breast milk is free. When we were in the hospital (only 60 hours w/a c-section here) we were blessed to see the lactation specialists and many nurses and Dr's about that, we wanted to make sure that this would work, and since being home it's been easier. The hospital is to stressful, home is so relaxing. Then like 3capps said the hospital bill depending on your insurance policy. Right now my son's less than 72 hours old so we are only just at the beginning. I will keep note though for you of what I am spending.
Blessings
_____________________________
It does not have to be well with my circumstance to be well with my soul!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: BABY BLUES - 7/12/2010 8:21:35 PM
|
|
|
gcsjr
Posts: 538
Joined: 11/23/2008
Status: offline
|
All I can tell you is that the first 6 months are nothing compared to the 17.5+ years that follow.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
