[greeney]

Hello all. I am due in late March early April and have been trying to figure out just a ballpark figure of what my newborn will cost weekly. I don't have to worry about child care when I return to work since the in-laws will be helping. It's all of the other things that I am trying to figure out. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[wanttobemommy]

I think that it all depends on what you are doing. Are you going to be formula feeding or breastfeeding? If your FF then you will have to work the cost of formula into it. If your breastfeeding you just need to work in the time that you are going to pump. My sister used storage bags that hooked into her pump so you may need to work something like that into your budget. Then there are diapers and wipes. And the other essential items it all depends on what you plan on doing really. I dont think you can get a certain amount because it depends on what you buy how much you use it and things like that.

[MissyChrissy]

Are you going to use cloth or disposable diapers? Cloth are expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run, even when budgeting for washing them. Are you going to have a baby shower? Do you expect large items (crib, car seat, etc?) or clothing items like onsies and sleepers?

Having a baby can greatly impact your budget..or not so much. It really depends on your individual "needs" as a person. Me, I'm content with having my baby in a onsie or sleeper-I don't need cutsie outfits for every day-only special occasions. So that saves me money. Baby food can be costly (when he/she gets to that stage). Conner is now on adult food (we're very lucky-some babies aren't ready at his age) but when he was on baby food it was costing us 25-35/week just to feed him. I was getting him the toddler dinners at $1.95/each, and a stage 3 jar of food for lunch at $0.69/each plus his own juice. Other resourceful moms make their own baby food & save a boatload of money.

[MommaColleen]

I agree with the others. Your costs will depend a lot on what you want to spend.

You can raise a baby on an economical budget or you can go all out and get top of the line stuff. Personally, we have not had to buy any diapers or clothing for Emma yet, we had lots of generous friends and family members that showered her with gifts. With our first 2 babies it was a bit different and we struggled to make ends meet some weeks.

If you want to pinch dome pennies, hit up the thrift stores for good, used clothing and other items. As for formula and diapers, the cost can vary depending on formula versus breastfeeding and cloth versus disposable diapers.

Good luck :0)

[slygirrl]

I figured this out once.... after my last one was off formula I calculated what I had spent over the course of a year on formula and diapers and it was somewhere around 3,000 dollars. Mine was strictly FF. That doesn't include what I then spent on jars of baby food for him. So there's where mine started. Most of my second son's clothes were hand me downs since they were still in good condition from my first one. I'm doing the same with this one, even though she is a girl because onsies and some rompers aren't gender specific, in fact most of what I had I can reuse, I only have a few outfits that blatantly boy outfits. And I still had all of the major items such as car seats, crib, stroller, etc.

You'll find ways to cut corners, and if you can get on WIC I would highly recommend it to cut the formula costs (if you FF). I don't qualify for it (I did with my first but now dh makes too much for us to even be considered), but if I did that's a program I would take full advantage of. Everyone has their own ways to save with a baby, you just kind of have to find yours and what you're comfortable with.

[mrs_ray]

Originally Posted by MissyChrissy

Are you going to use cloth or disposable diapers? Cloth are expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run, even when budgeting for washing them.

Unless you hand wash and use simple prefolds. It'd be a lot more time consuming but also a lot cheaper. It's like ten bucks for a pack of 12 prefolds, less than a pack of "good" disposable diapers. It's not only affordable but also environmentally friendly!

And then there is the subject of breastfeeding. You'd have to keep your caloretic intake at 300 additional calories a day and eat healthy foods, but you'd be saving a large amount of money either way because formular can get very expensive. A pump could run up to $300.00, but a years supply of formula could apparently cost between $1,500.00 and $2,000.00. Freezing breast milk is also an option, so you always have some on hand (if say you leave baby with daddy or a sitter and don't want to buy a can of formula). Breast feeding can benefit you in more ways than just svaing money though! My doctor says it can reduce your risk of breast cancer. And from what my breast feeding friends are telling me the baby weight can melt right off. One girl at work has been breast feeding for about a year now and weighs something like 20 pounds LESS than she did before the baby.

Premade baby meals can get expensive, making healthy meals for your baby from scratch would be both healthier for your baby and cost less in the long haul. I'm buying a simple food processer soon so I can make mush of things a little easier. You could always get a food saver and freeze any left overs for awhile. And wouldn't it feel nice to know your baby is eating a fresh, organic home made meal instead of something you aren't too sure of? I know it's VERY easy to microwave a jar of greenbean mush, a lot of women really do not have the time for any of these things (making the food, breast feeding, cloth diapering) but having more affordable options (and options that benefit you and baby in more ways than financially) could make you both happier.

Outside of medical, clothing, toys and nursery needs I really don't see this as something that has to be expensive. There are a lot of things that you just DON'T need that many women will make you think you need (ie: the diaper genie). People exadurate the costs of babies. It's when they're older that one should really worry (ie: when they discover toys r us.. and then the mall... and then college). Unless you have a special needs child, it probably wont be nearly as expensive as you may think if you just switch for the all natural way instead of the ultra expensive modern disposable route.

Personally, I'm allowing my DH to buy ONE package of disposables and I will NOT let it become a habit. I'm not comfortable with it for many reasons though, not only because of the fact that they are expensive (seriously, it's litteraly throwing money in the garbage) but it's also very bad for the environment. These same tiny babies we're bringing in to this world shouldn't have to clean up the huge mess that we've spent many years making!

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by mrs_ray

And then there is the subject of breastfeeding. You'd have to keep your caloretic intake at 300 additional calories a day

An extra 300 calories per day is for pregnancy. It takes an extra 500 calories per day to breastfeed one child. It's the equivalent of eating 5-6 small meals per day. Sorry. . .I just had to say that.

I have to agree with the others though. . .you really cannot possibly know what the baby will cost. So much of what you do will depend on your baby, your available resources, and your time. For example, several women have mentioned pumping, freezing, storing, etc. breastmilk. I breastfed all of my kids and did none of that (and I worked as well). So they were free to feed for the first 9 months or so.

I don't make baby food but let baby eat off my plate. We just started noticing our grocery bill going up in the last few months. . .with the addition of twins! So really, it takes awhile for them to cost a lot to feed. . .unless of course you go with formula and pre-made food and pre-made drinks and all that other stuff.

We also don't do cribs or strollers. . .so we didn't have to buy a crib, mattress or bedding. We didn't need an expensive travel system for an infant and for all the kids (except for the twins) we bought cheaper strollers bc frankly, the big ones were too heavy for our needs.

Anyways, so it really depends on you and what you need and are comfortable with. I will say this though. . .as an experienced mom I have discovered that I actually needed less than half the stuff I thought I did!

[greeney]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to breast feed for the first month or so and then go onto formula as well as using disposable diapers.