How much do babies cost

victoria270385

Me and my husband are trying for a baby, 2nd month of trying and currently have a loan which i am paying off....should be cleared by july time. I have worked out what we could save after we have paid off the loan if we get pregnant in the next few months...just wondering how much roughly people spent on the pram/cot/moses basket/car seat, all the must have's before the baby came along. Just wondering if im kidding myself into thinking we will have saved enough. Hubby is really keen on trying now and so am i, we dont really want to wait, hubby is only 31 but he is already worrying about being an old dad so wants to get going straight away. Thanks in advance for advice. xx

Addiscomber

How long is a piece of string?

Not trying to be flippant here, but nobody can tell you this with any degree of certainty. It can be very expensive if you let it be by insisting on designer stuff. Or you can keep costs down if you are prepared to buy second hand equipment (that can be washed or wiped well with something like diluted Milton fluid) at car boots. You could also get some clothes that way. You would be very unlucky not to be given stuff for your baby as well. I wouldn't want to buy a secondhand car seat though, you need to know exactly what that is designed for and how it has been treated.

Don't forget ongoing costs for nappies (whatever type you use) and laundry. Possibly milk and food depending on how things go (I intended to breast feed but it just wasn't going to happen - not enough there whatever I did :mad: )

angchris

They cost as much as you want them to cost! You can buy baby stuff from the carboot or from Harrods it's entirely your choice, but I can't see the point in spending loads when baby is only in them 2 minutes then your expensive clothes/cots/pushchairs end up gathering dust in storage.
Good luck with trying for a baby, and have fun! Don't leave it till you think you are financially ready as there will never be a right time, and I took 6 years to fall pregnant with 2nd so get on with it!;)

Sally_A

Car seats, prams etc are a known cost.

Unaccounted costs are lower wages, possibly at a loss of £10k per year if you chose to stick with a local job for ease of childcare.

By the way, just when you think you are saving money as they are out of nappies and baby food..........they'll want shoes, trips out. And come school day...trips, uniform. Clothes and shoes are outgrown so quickly between the age of 4 and 7.

After that it's sports club fees, sports kit, fashionable clothing, mobile phone.

They are parasites I tell you!!!!!

rachhh

Depends where you buy them!
:rotfl:Sorry, couldn't resist!

mogwai

We are pregnant with our first, and thought we'd have to put aside a good chunk of money for all the bits and bobs, but it turns out between our friends and family, everything is being bought for us, as well as some clothes..

Have a think about whether your family will want to buy stuff for you, or if you have any relatives or friends who have had babies recently who may be willing to pass things along. Including things like maternity clothes!

Also have a look at benefits you can get, child benefit, health in pregnancy grants (not sure which ones are current now), healthy start scheme, and you also get free dental and prescriptions during and after pregnancy)..

katie1812

Although we aren't trying yet, in the next few years we will be but whenever we talk about we always end up talking about money. We have said that putting aside x amount of money a month means that there will always be something to fall back on, and so when buying things we can use the money we have in the bank without trying to touch the other incase of emergency or needing things as they get older that we hadn't planned of or maybe can't afford at that time.

Like others have said though can you ever afford it? My mum always says you never can!

lika_86

It's not just the cost of the baby though, if you work you'll need to consider whether you will take maternity leave and how much, then if you go back there's childcare, consider the drop in income (if applicable too) and whether you can still afford your outgoings.

daska

You can, if you put the effort in, do it for nearly nowt. Look on your local freegle/freecycle regularly for all the equipment and re-usable nappies. You might have to collect but you'll almost certainly get everything you need on there.

VikkiiKawaii

It can be quite cheap if you get things from the right places. My LO is eight months and so far it hasn't been very expensive, although bits of it are luck & good family.

So far for me it's been
Pram: Nothing, had one given to me which had been in someone's attic but can be bought of selling pages for about £50 if you're not fussy about brand.

Umbrella fold pushchair- £20 through selling pages (bought to go on holiday but LO loves it)

Moses Basket: Nothing, was given one (but you don't necessarily need one!)

Bottles - £10 for six, got them in the Asda baby event six would be plenty (don't bother with the little bottles go straight for the nine ounce ones)

Formula - £40 a month (LO uses Aptamil which was recommended by HV)

Nappies - £20ish? monthly from Aldi

Wipes - 69p Aldi

Clothes:
Newborn & 0-3 nothing
3-6+ probably about £6 for each size (bought through selling pages, on eBay and given secondhand things by friends and family)

Blankets - don't really use them as I use baby sleeping bags but was given old ones by people and had a lovely one knitted by a friend of my Mum's

Toys - nothing, have made a sensory basket with things from around the house (i.e rice/pasta in a bottle) and have been given things by friends and family

Baby bath - £20 but don't necessarily need it - baby could be bathed in the sink or the big bath (personally it was a waste of money and she prefers to lie down in the big bath and kick around)

Sleeping bag - depends where it's from, haven't paid for any of mine as have been given or loaned them but I think about £10 for one (They are great, my LO twists and kicks blankets around so this keeps her warm)

Swaddler - Can use blankets, I was lent one by a family friend and it was great for getting her to sleep until she learned to free herself.

Dummies (if you'll use them) £4.00 for three in 0-3 size, my LO didn't like the bigger sizes.

Sterilizer £20-30 depending on type (you could use a large tub and cold water sterilize, I have a Tomee Tippee microwave one which is very quick.

Cot - £40 from Ikea with a mattress (LO sleeps fine in it)

skintchick

Boobs are free.

There's not a lot babies need and as people have said it can be done cheaply for a little effort.

Often people will give you things too.