Costs of raising a baby

rockabelle

A year ago, I tried to find information about how much it would cost to raise a child for the time I was on maternity leave, so that I could work out how much I needed to save. All I could find, was that it would cost me approx. 200k to raise her till she was an adult, which wasn’t very helpful! In hindsight, I now realise that that’s probably because you can spend as much, or as little, on a baby as you want. But in case other people out there are looking as I did, I thought I’d provide some information! I’m well aware I could have spent less, or more, so please don’t respond with comments along the lines of it could be done for much less!
I’ve broken the costs down into equipment, maternity (and breastfeeding) clothes, and courses, and the figures are rounded. I was given a huge amount of baby clothes, and some equipment too, so the list isn’t a complete list of everything you probably need.
Courses: NCT (250), First Aid (100) and music (80). I found NCT invaluable, as it meant I met other people who were going to be off work at the same time as me, with babies the same age. Six months on and I still see them several times a week, and they’re always there to give advice etc.
Maternity clothes – 500 (I have to have smart work clothes sadly)
Equipment – pram 480, cot 100, mattress 120, sheets and mattress protector 60, baby bjorn 80, steriliser and bottles 30, breast pump 67, cot top changer 50 (total waste! Use the floor), changing mat and liners 20, towels 10, muslins 20, thermometer 40, and then probably another 100 on small things like nappy bins, night lights etc.
As for nappies, if you buy them in bulk, they’re probably 10-15p a nappy and on average we get through 6 a day (though it’s more like 12 a day at the start).
Hope this is of use to someone out there!

lovecake

Thanks! That is very helpful! Was this for all new stuff or any second hand? Do you get antenatal classes through the NHS in your area? I only ask because we get parentcraft classes which are free and the midwife said they are pretty much the same as NCT. So I was wondering if maybe you did go to the NHS ones but saw more benefit in going to the NCT IYSWIM? I'm hoping to not bother spending on NCT if the NHS ones are just as good...

guruchelles

Thanks Rockabelle.

In my youngest son's first year I would have said our purchases were:

Cot and mattress: £200
Second hand pram: £150
Car seat: £50
Wrap: £50
Sheets and blankets: £70
Clothes (new vests and ssuits, most outfits from ebay): £250
Two nursing bras: £70
Nursing vests: £50 (but actually, it's just as easy to wear two vests and pull one up and one down).

Total: £890

We did buy extras, like a wardrobe and changing table, but these are unnecessary luxuries.

Jonesy88

Just wanted to pop by and say thankful for such a helpful thread. I am currently trying to work out how much we need for that 1st year (including maternity pay supplements).

barbiedoll

lovecake, the NHS parentcraft sessions are indeed as good as the NCT classes (and free, so very MSE!) but from what I can gather, parents go to the NCT classes not just for information but to meet new parents who live in their local area. Your hospital will cover a vast area and although you will meet other parents at the NHS classes, they may live a long way away from you, at an NCT class, they will be much more local.

I didn't go to any classes at all when I was pregnant, because my husband had already had kids, I didn't think that I needed to bother. Sadly, he wasn't much use during breastfeeding (although he was very good at making the tea!) so definitely take up the chance of the free ones at least. But do book early, if your hospital is anything like mine, it will get booked up really quickly.

go_cat

One of the biggest costs to factor in is childcare

rockabelle

I was just regretting posting this thread, as I realised how much was missing from it as we were given things (car seat, playmat, mobile, rocker etc being some of the larger things!) I'm glad it is of use!
Everything I listed was bought new, as I was being a bit precious when I was pregnant, and had sufficient income to cover it. Certainly anything I buy now is second hand (yay Fara children's shops).

I did NCT over the hospital classes because I wanted to meet people in the same area as me, and the hospital ones didn't have the same people going each week, and cover a huge area, so anyone I might have met might have lived miles away.

Childcare is certainly the biggest cost, but we haven't got there yet! However, the nurseries in my area cost from betwee 50 to 95 a day (and if you do want to send them to nursery, get on the waiting list while pregnant - there are people trying to get places at the same nurseries as me who registered before I even got pregnant, and a year before I even thought about it!)

onlyroz

What about loss of income during maternity leave, and the cost of childcare? I once figured out that we spent an eye-watering £80k on childcare over the course of 7 years.

Stigofthedump_2

My recommendation is if you are not too proud buy everything secondhand - especially clothes - they literally wear them for a few weeks - a bonus so when you buy them they are nearly new and you can sell them on again. I joined NCT and only found out about nearly new sales after my son was born - he's 5 now and I have clothed him completely for 5 years in secondhand clothes - I'm careful with my purchases and buy well in advance, he wears designer clothes for next to nothing!!!.
Toys are another good secondhand purchase - especially plastic stuff which can be washed and disinfected - I promise you your child will never know.
I'm now in the habit of selling my stuff on again and my son is a willing participant helping me find things to sell because I always come home with new toys for him.
My second huge bit of advice is you really dont need all that equipment the shops tell you that you need!! We were given most of ours and I can tell you we never used the folliowing: baby bath, top tail bow (we used our bath and washing up bowl!) Changing table (we used mats on the floor in each room - you dont want to go upstairs every time you need to change) Nappy bin (we just bought bags to wrap - the list goes on so be very careful about what you think you need and what you actually need - often you can also borrow from other mums before you buy if not sure.

Stigofthedump_2

go_cat wrote: »

One of the biggest costs to factor in is childcare

Agreed!
If possible join the tax efficient childcare voucher schemes even before baby's are born - the longer you put money aside the easier it is. Just remember to stop making payment in good time so you dont lose out as once in the scheme money cant be got out unless to a childcare provider.
This money can also be used for holiday play schemes too.

choccielover

I did the NCT and the nhs courses and would say the NCT were far better.

They were far more in depth and I felt much more prepared having done them.

But you don't have to do the classes, most groups hold some form of baby group too that anyone is welcome to.

Mine do a bumps and babes group which is popular and is free to attend.

The nearly new sales are amazing, but again you don't have to e a member, the bonus being early entry if you are though!

I spent a fortune kitting out for my daughters arrival, and since so won't frighten you with my numbers :rotfl:

One thing to remember is that if you are usually out of the house all day, your utility bills will go up once you are home with the baby. Obviously this is worse in winter....

Choccie