Finance advice for family planning

ms00skr

Hi

My husband and I are starting to think about having a family and we want to be aware of the potential costs. I am aware that having children is expensive and you cannot know exact numbers but I have developed a list of the initial outgoings during pregnancy and the first few months to at least try and be prepared...

Please take a look and make suggestions if I have missed things. I have calculated prices from new but I am prepared to buy certain things second hand etc. So this list is worst case scenario but I am sure I am ignorant to quite a few things...

Thanks in advance

Sian


PREGNANCY & DELIVERY
Breast pads £6
Nipple cream £5
Nursing Bra £25
Maternity Clothes £150
Feminine Hygiene £1.3

SLEEPING
Moses Basket £35
Moses basket stand £30
Night Light £15
Baby monitor £60
Grobag for 2 £25

NURSERY
Wardrobe £500
Chest of Drawers £400
Changing Unit £80
Cot £100
Mattress £30
Bed side Table £100

TOILETING/ABLUTIONS
Bath/support £12
Sponges/flannels £10
Change mat £15
Nappy sacks for 50 £1.79
Nappies Pampers 22 nappies newborn £3.99

FEEDING
High Chair £60
Bibs £6
Milk Bottles for 2 £8
Breast pump £30
Steriliser £30

TRAVELLING
Car Seat £117
Car sun blind £4
Pram 3in1 M&P Rubix £429
Travel Cot £50
Change mat £15
Mum bag £50

CLOTHING
Newborn babygrows for 10 £10
scratch mitts for 2 pairs £5
Hat for 2 £5
Boots for 2 £5
Shawl £25
Sleep suits £15
Jacket £15
Socks 2 pack £4

HEALTH
Ear thermometer £30
Bath thermometer £15

MISC
Gates £20
Bouncer £30

onlyroz

Biggest cost of having a baby is childcare and the drop in salary while you're on maternity leave. Everything else is insignificant and easily covered by the child benefit.

ms00skr

Thanks onlyroz

I've looked into Child Benefit but it doesn't seem clear exactly what we would get. It doesn't seem affected by income? As my husband and I earn "above average" we don't seem to qualify for much financial support although we are struggling to save for a house etc. I won't start ranting about that though :-)

elainec

hi, just a couple of thoughts, if your planning on breastfeeding, i would suggest more for breast pads and nursing bras, esp at start i had to change myself a lot during day until got into a routine with feeds. muslin cloths are really handy when feeding for burping the baby and also cleaning yourself up!
breast milk bags if your going to be expressing.
nappies is a big cost and some people stock up but i found some types didnt work as well so maybe just put money by for these until you find what type and size works for your baby.

bexta

Hi, it is sensible to try and work out a rough budget. Obviously everyone has different 'needs' and 'wants' regarding their little one. If you're happy to go 2nd hand for some things, I'd recommend ebay for baby clothes and sleeping bags - you can pick up really nice things literally for pennies. Also, you've listed a pram - make sure you have a good play with a few before deciding, what looks nice, might not do what you need it to ikswim?

For furniture, rather than buying 'kiddy' stuff (with the exception of the cot obviously) we bought a wardrobe and drawers which will hopefully last until her teen years. We can add stuff like bookshelves/ desks as she grows.

I do breast feed, but I've never actually got round to buying a pump yet. I'd wait to see if it's for you/ until breast feeding is established before you buy one. Many places will offer a try before you buy system, as different pumps work for different women.

Maternity clothes, I only bought a couple of pairs of 'bottom's and a bump band, and vest tops in the next size up - I'm quite casual, so this may not fit your needs.

I'd bank on buying more breast pads and maternity pads (grim but necessary) and more than one nursing bra (although wait until your milk has come in before getting properly fitted)

Last (I will shut up) join all the baby clubs out there, you get loads of vouchers and freebies

go_cat

ms00skr wrote: »

Hi

My husband and I are starting to think about having a family and we want to be aware of the potential costs. I am aware that having children is expensive and you cannot know exact numbers but I have developed a list of the initial outgoings during pregnancy and the first few months to at least try and be prepared...

Please take a look and make suggestions if I have missed things. I have calculated prices from new but I am prepared to buy certain things second hand etc. So this list is worst case scenario but I am sure I am ignorant to quite a few things...

Thanks in advance

Sian


PREGNANCY & DELIVERY
Breast pads £6 -you will need quite a fe of these even if not Bf when milk comes through
Nipple cream £5
Nursing Bra £25
Maternity Clothes £150 - go up a size in normal clothes ..this is MSE!!
Feminine Hygiene £1.3 - again potentially 6 weeks worth

SLEEPING
Moses Basket £35
Moses basket stand £30 -
Night Light £15
Baby monitor £60
Grobag for 2 £25 - brilliant but not really suitable for moses basket use in cot only/ use own brand they are just as good

NURSERY
Wardrobe £500 - do you really need all this furntiture?
Chest of Drawers £400
Changing Unit £80
Cot £100 - if have space consider cot bed that changes into bed after baby about 2
Mattress £30 - personally if could afford it would spend more
Bed side Table £100 - why????/?

TOILETING/ABLUTIONS
Bath/support £12
Sponges/flannels £10
Change mat £15
Nappy sacks for 50 £1.79
Nappies Pampers 22 nappies newborn £3.99

FEEDING
High Chair £60 when baby is approx 6 months
Bibs £6
Milk Bottles for 2 £8 if Bottle feeding you will need more than 2 if BF you may want freezer bags for breast milk
Breast pump £30
Steriliser £30

TRAVELLING
Car Seat £117
Car sun blind £4
Pram 3in1 M&P Rubix £429
Travel Cot £50 do you travel / stay away from if not, not needed
Change mat £15 - can pick up for about £5-£7
Mum bag £50

CLOTHING
Newborn babygrows for 10 £10
scratch mitts for 2 pairs £5
Hat for 2 £5
Boots for 2 £5
Shawl £25
Sleep suits £15 you will need lots think washing/ drying depending on time of year due you may want body suits also to go under clothes
Jacket £15
Socks 2 pack £4

HEALTH
Ear thermometer £30 invaluable!!!!
Bath thermometer £15 - pick up lots cheaper or use your elbow!

MISC
Gates £20 - only needed when child is walking / if you have dogs and want to keep them away from baby
Bouncer £30

Comments above hope they are of help

ms00skr

Lol, thanks Go Cat. I know I completely over priced the furniture, I am not seriously intending to spend this much but have serious concerns about hidden costs.

mrsspendalot

Re nursery furniture - £500 for a wardrobe and £400 for drawers seems really expensive!!!

I've just bought a normal sized wardrobe and drawers from Argos, solid pine, plain for £150 which will see them right through to whenever the wood splits and falls apart! (Scandinavia range - have it in all our other rooms too, it's proper solid pine, not cheap MDF)

I also had a changing unit once before and it got used about 3 times. To be honest, standing with your baby sideways on whilst they lay on the table isn't the most comfortable position or easiest position for changing nappies. A cot top changer would probably be easier as at least you are face on and not side on.

Can't see why you would need a bedside table either, but you do need to factor in the cost of cot bedding for when the baby moves into a cot (so bumper, quilt, blankets, sheets, mobile etc)

mrsspendalot

One thing I also found invaluable was a bath stand for when my babies were in the baby bath - this saved my back from a) leaning to bath them, and b) lifting the bath from the floor to tip the water away. About £12 in argos

Fizzpop

Instead of a cot maybe think about buying a cot bed a little more expense initially (if you buy new but can pick up some really nice ones second hand) Then it will last until your child is at least 4-5 years old the cot bed i have has seen me through 3 children so far and all ive needed to do is change the mattress, im expecting my 4th and last bub in may so it will be sold or given away once she is done with it x

A high chair you wont need straight away so budget it by all means but you will have time to save again before you need it x

Join your local freecycle group too, ive managed to get lots of my baby stuff (mainly clothes) off there and its free, but i do put back on there once im finished with things x

Look out for local NCT sales if you get there early there is usually a really good range of stuff from baby clothes to the bigger items ie prams etc x

If you get a pram with a decent carrycot on it then you wont need a moses basket as you can take the carrycot up to your bed room x

Oooo and Asda does a baby event you can get things from there quite cheap x

And join every club you come accross always good for vouchers x

CL

ms00skr wrote: »

Hi

My husband and I are starting to think about having a family and we want to be aware of the potential costs. I am aware that having children is expensive and you cannot know exact numbers but I have developed a list of the initial outgoings during pregnancy and the first few months to at least try and be prepared...

Please take a look and make suggestions if I have missed things. I have calculated prices from new but I am prepared to buy certain things second hand etc. So this list is worst case scenario but I am sure I am ignorant to quite a few things...

Thanks in advance

Sian


PREGNANCY & DELIVERY
Breast pads £6 Would buy more
Nipple cream £5
Nursing Bra £25
Maternity Clothes £150
Feminine Hygiene £1.3 Definitely buy more!

SLEEPING
Moses Basket £35
Moses basket stand £30
Night Light £15
Baby monitor £60
Grobag for 2 £25 £8 each in Matalan

NURSERY
Wardrobe £500
Chest of Drawers £400
Changing Unit £80 Cot top changer is cheaper
Cot £100
Mattress £30
Bed side Table £100

TOILETING/ABLUTIONS
Bath/support £12
Sponges/flannels £10
Change mat £15
Nappy sacks for 50 £1.79 Tesco value are great 17p for 300
Nappies Pampers 22 nappies newborn £3.99 New babies use 8 per day!

FEEDING
High Chair £60
Bibs £6
Milk Bottles for 2 £8
Breast pump £30
Steriliser £30

TRAVELLING
Car Seat £117
Car sun blind £4
Pram 3in1 M&P Rubix £429
Travel Cot £50
Change mat £15
Mum bag £50 Free if you join Boots Baby club

CLOTHING
Newborn babygrows for 10 £10
scratch mitts for 2 pairs £5 2 pairs for 75p in Tesco
Hat for 2 £5
Boots for 2 £5 Never used as babygros have feet covered
Shawl £25 Never used
Sleep suits £15 Sleepsuits and babygros are the same thing- people buy lots of clothes as presents. I only needed about 8 newborn babygros and have received enough clothes as presents for the first year.
Jacket £15
Socks 2 pack £4

HEALTH
Ear thermometer £30 Got one for a tenner
Bath thermometer £15 Ear thermometers also measure bath temp

MISC
Gates £20
Bouncer £30

I have a 12 week old and above are a few points I found. You really don't need to spend £1000 on nursery furniture. You may want to, but you can get it much cheaper than this.

I bought everything I needed before I stopped work for maternity leave. I agree that the only real cost I have noticed is the loss of earnings, which is a really big issue I planned for.