Realistically, how much do you spend per month on a new baby?

*Redhead*

I'd rather have a small stockpile just in case.

As Aimless said, if baby doesnt get on with one brand of nappies, I'd change them for one that he does get on with.

SMA I know I can sell on to one of my friends if he needs different milk so I don't mind buying them

Gilly. Lol. The extras are worth it. The changing bag is huge though, and im sure I'll still be able to fill it lol.

Xx

dizziblonde

I'm deliberately NOT stockpiling nappies because I know that whatever brand/size I pick won't work and I'm lousy at trying to get refunds on things! I've started stocking up on clothes (mainly babygros - I know other people will buy lots of cutesy little outfits - although I'll confess a weakness for things with Tigger on and hats with ears on - and despite trying to save money, a girl's got to be able to indulge in at least some cute but hideously embarassing when your first boy/girlfriend comes round and sees the photos clothes buying!) in a range of sizes as and when I see things cheap and I've just got them stashed away in respective size boxes ready - I'm hoping I can get at least to about 6 months covered as and when I've got spare cash. Not buying anything big till after our 20 week scan (too many losses in the past to be counting my babies before they've hatched) but trying to start chucking the odd pack of wipes or cotton wool in with the weekly shop to have a stockpile of that sort of stuff to burn through.

And people offer so many hand-me-downs - I know I'm sorted if it's a girl (find out just after the new year!) and would be sorta OK if it was a boy really... know I can borrow things like moses baskets (I'd like one for downstairs naps - not sure I'll be carting it up and down the stairs - but I was always damned if I was going to buy one for a few weeks) - so in reality it's only really cot, carseat, pram/pushchair/plastic-clad tank (well some of them are the size of one!) that we really need to track down. Planning on breastfeeding purely because the alternative of plodding downstairs and making up bottles at stupid o' clock in the morning does NOT appeal - but will cross that bridge when we come to it if I can't!

Never got my voucher through for the changing bag from Boots parenting club though (or the Asda vouchers come to think - had to request them because they wouldn't print on my PC)... not impressed about that.

I've only seen muslins (which have an almost cult-like following and reverence on some sites) on sale in one shop - considering everyone goes into some kind of hypnotic daze about "oooh you must have muslins, lots of muslins and then double that amount" you don't seem to be able to buy 'em!

The doting grannies to be are also on a knitting frenzy... so I think I'm sorted for cardies and the like - to levels where I'm not buying any yet!

neverdespairgirl

Gillyx wrote: »

R.e the ready meals, I'd advise the O.P to do as much batch cooking as possible, I've started already, it means you have a tasty healthy meal (which breast feeding mothers need) at the press of a button.

I froze some stuff before Isaac was born, ready to be heated up and eaten. My mother spent a fortnight with us, and cooked every night (which is like going to a 5 * restaurant, except you can eat in your pyjamas). After than OH cooked, mostly!

Gillyx

Redhead My lovely grandparents sent me a cheque for Christmas (3 weeks ago?) So I'm maybe gonna get the change bag with that, I can't justify it otherwise. The amount is actually disgusting.

Dizzi The majority of my nappies I've bought in glitches or got for free/very little with vouchers, so if they really don't suit I will give them into the hospital, they can always use them I've got a supply of Pampers & Huggies (size 1-3) Although most people I speak to don't like Huggies very much. We'l see how it goes. Muslins - Boots, Mothercare, M&P, M&S and all the supermarkets sell them. Generally they're a good bit cheaper from the supermarkets. I think M&P retail at about £18 for 4 :eek: ridiculous when all it is for is to catch baby sick.

Neverdespairgirl Sounds good to me, although my Mum is too far away and the thought of my MIL moving in, would probably send me over the edge (lovely woman, but 2 weeks!!) I'm trying to be as prepared as can be, I know no matter what I do though, nothing will really prepare me

spongybobby

as many people have said... babys (up till 8 months) are as cheap and chips.

Mrs SB breastfed our daughter (and still does at 11months) and it has saved us huge amounts of money as the formula is not cheap!

Most of the clothes he have where either given to us or we purchased from asda (cheap stuff). When they are in their first year, its amazing how quickly stuff 'shrinks'.

We used little stars nappies and are just as good as pampers.. without the price tag to boot.

once you have paid out for cot, decorations, and other 'baby' related stuff i would say it cost us about £30 a month to feed her and clothe her. (untill about 6 months)

At 6 months we started feeding her more 'solid' foods... so she ends up eating out dinners that have been nicely blended (its amazing how nice a home made lasagna tastes pureed ).
apart from getting through nappied i would say we spend £50-£60 per month on her. thats including a toy or two!


Now, car seats are not cheap though.. £180 for her first car seat and now she has gone in to an ERF (extended rear facing) car seat... that cost me £330.

Buggies... our first one was a present (£300 from the mother inlaw) and we got a BJCM (Baby Jogger City Mini) which cost £200.

So i would estimate... from birth to a year is going to cost £1200 once you have got yourself all the gubbins etc.

Also another thing we found for food, is once they are trying 'solids' make lots and mash it up.. freeze it and then its easy lunches / dinners

neverdespairgirl

Gillyx wrote: »

Neverdespairgirl Sounds good to me, although my Mum is too far away and the thought of my MIL moving in, would probably send me over the edge (lovely woman, but 2 weeks!!) I'm trying to be as prepared as can be, I know no matter what I do though, nothing will really prepare me

I think a lot of people would feel that about the MIL staying.

Fortunately, my Mama and my OH really like each other. Even if they hadn't, though, I suspect that getting home from work to find a relaxed girlfriend who'd had a shower etc, and a lovely meal nearly ready, would have reconciled him to her being there.

fannyanna

I'm loving reading this post. We're trying for a baby (well on a little break but will be resuming action again soon hopefully) and I just know that I'm going to be wanting to buy absolutely everything when our time comes.

MrsManda

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Fortunately, my Mama and my OH really like each other. Even if they hadn't, though, I suspect that getting home from work to find a relaxed girlfriend who'd had a shower etc, and a lovely meal nearly ready, would have reconciled him to her being there.

My mum's planning on coming staying for a few days around my due date. I'm due on a Friday and my husband has to be in London Sunday night until Tuesday afternoon so my mum is going to be around in case baby turns up early/on time as that way I don't need to cope on my own immediately after leaving hospital. Also if baby is late and I go into labour while my OH is away I'll have support and someone to get me to hospital
My Inlaws are only half an hour up the road so when my mum has to go back to work they'll be popping down to help, especially when my OH goes back to work as well. - Fortunately my OH loves my mum and I really like his parents.

neverdespairgirl

Sounds good. If you're anything like me, just after the birth of your first child you'll want all the help you can get.

My son hated being a baby. He hated being put down, I think he got bored. So it was very nice to have someone to give him to so that I could have a shower!

dizziblonde

I've got a notebook with lists, clippings of useful things (found a chart with what tog sleeping bag to use with what room temperature and stuff - that's all gone in there) and I'm just gradually ticking off a few bits a month that we've got/ticking them off in different colours if I know we can borrow them/know we can borrow them but they're for a specific gender (although being honest, I don't think it'll give a stuff if it's a little girl and comes out to the sight of a blue cot mobile - and I hate pink anyway!). Thankfully I've got a hideously organised SIL who's sent us a list of what she's got, with expected dates she'll be finished using things for her baby, website links to the product in question and everything else that's available to borrow (it's seriously that level of organisation!)

And my mother in law's coming to stay, but not with us, she's planning on doing a short-let somewhere near to be on hand when it arrives - might be some people's idea of horror but we get on really well and from a practical point of view - having someone back at home to help sort out dogs and stuff while I'm preocupied down the hospital will be one less thing to sort out and stress about!