What is the real cost of having kids?

bendanmommy

Congratulations on your new family
I second Aldi nappies being brill! My youngest is only in them at night now but I think they are just as good, if not better than more expensive brands.
Car boots and charity shops are good for picking up clothes and toys too. The supermarkets also have good quality clothes.

See if there is a children's centre local to you as they have children's groups and are a valuable source of information.

Broomstick

Congratulations on your new family from me too.

Something that I found invaluable when my two were little, if you haven't already got one, was a non-slip rubber bath mat. Playing in the bath in the evening is a really good calm-down for children at the end of the day and they will be little enough to go in together. You don't need expensive bath toys. Things like washed out margarine tubs make good things to pour with as well as good boats, and an ordinary little plastic toy animal or plastic person will be fine as a sailor!

I'd echo helzbelz's suggestion about starting a list of possible presents just in case family or friends ask about them. On the watery theme... I know that my sons loved their own bath towels (my oldest still uses his 20 years later as a sports towel!) and if you go swimming or to the beach in the summer they'll need cozzies (and maybe arm bands). None of this is necessary but would make really nice practical presents that would not have to be too expensive if the offer came your way.

You can join them into your local library straight away which will give you access to tons of bedtime stories!

B x

flyingmamma

Congrats on your new family .... I have bought some great clothes bundles from ebay for my son and now that my daughter is in school I have made some great mummy friends.... We all swap clothes, equipment and pass on things to whoever might use them. It's really lovely . The friends I have made since having kids have been wonderful .... I never thought when my daughter made friends in school I would too:) I have 3 little ones they can be as expensive or cheap as u want to make it.... We love free days out at the park just as much as pricey softplsy areas. Picnics are a big fav too. I recently found asda junior own label nappies.... £1.40 for 20.... Recommended by a childminder.... They save me £30 a month ! Wish I'd used them 4 years ago! Still use branded for bedtime but the others are really good. Good luck !

gayle1

firstly well done xx
make things easy for yourself no jeans joggybottoms are easier for both ages for going to the loo 4yrs can manage these by himself and as the 2 yrs old might be potty training joggies for him 2 x
pants are better 4 little ones other than boxershorts
jacket each wellies hat gloves scarfes attach gloves to ribbon and feed them through the jacket.
vests
trainers really think velcro fastening is best till they can tie their own
toothbrushes both totally different kids toothpaste but not the blueone they dont like that
long sleeved tshirts for soft play under jumpers
wee body warmer
socks
jammies
jumpers
shorts boys love shorts its a freedom thing even in winter and sunglasses
trainers and sandshoes/slippers for indoors
put buy the stuff for the 4yrs after hes finished with it it can do the 2yrs old im a mum of boys 8 and 6 teach them how to go a bike swim bake ull be fantastic and if not ull learn quick boredom causes frustration in all

Sequeena

Oh congratulations

I only have 1 son but he's 2 so perhaps I can help a little with the 2 year old.

We still co-sleep at the moment but he does have his own bed and he has 2 duvets/pillow cases and 2 sheets. I find that is enough the times he has been in his own bed. One to sleep in one in the wash.

Clothes wise I would make sure you have at least 7 tops and trousers, vests (normal vests you can buy anyway if you want poppered vests like baby ones mothercare and M&S sell them in 2-3. We use them for our son in the day as it helps keep his nappy in place ), 7 pairs of socks, slippers, 1 pair of shoes (and wellies if needs be), a coat and a cardigan/jacket. Oh and pyjamas. My son usually wears a fresh pair every night as he'll dirty them whilst eating breakfast so 7 pairs of those.

Nappies wise I use disposables and find that the 2 packs for £10 from supermarkets last around a month. My son typically needs changing around 4 times a day, more if he has tummy troubles.

Food wise my son eats a small portion of what we eat so it doesn't really cost us anymore. It does cost me more in snacks (cheese, raisins, fruit etc) but I'm sure it would cost me less if I made snacks myself. I buy a bottle of abidec vitamins too which is around the £3 mark. It usually lasts around a month, possibly longer.

Brands wise this is what I use and they work for us. My son doesn't have any allergies that we know of and he doesn't have sensitive skin.

Nappies: Currently using pampers but usually use morrisons little big nappies (find these better than pampers)
Wipes: any supermarket value
Bum cream - metanium (yellow tube) when he's sore, morrisons little big just for general use
Clothes: I find H&M, nutmeg (morrisons), tesco, M&S and next good value and good wearing
Shoes: My son only wears clarks due to hypermobility but I fully believe good footwear is a must for children's developing feet. My son's most recent pair cost £34

You will likely need a pushchair for the 2 year old. Little legs tire easily and you'll use it on and off until he's in school. If you don't have one I highly recommend the chicco liteway. Easy to push, easy to fold, comfy for little ones and looks great. It's currently £100 in toys r us (if toys r us have it they're usually the cheapest). Well worth the money imo. We're just about to get a disability pushchair for our son but I've loved using the liteway.

Keep some children's paracetamol, ibuprofen, a nasal spray, plasters and nail clippers handy. Any brand will do.

Bath wise I use whatever is on offer for my son along with a flannel. Same again with a toothbrush and I use halo n horns toothpaste as it has less nasty stuff in it.

I'm sorry I can't really cost everything out for you but I hope I've helped a little. You've just missed the baby event supermarkets have but they're on several times a year (speaking of you must have a stair gate for the top and bottom of the stairs, cupboard locks too if needs be put everything hazardous up high). Sainsbury's often have 25% off their clothes which are also great and mothercare currently have an up to 50% off sale on clothes which you can take advantage of now.

I hope I've helped a little

wik

Many Congratulations....
Do you have a local sure start childrens centre? they are very handy.
Also look at local library about sessions for children...
as for bedding - I agree with others 2 sets each + a spare duvet.

Now this may sound very daft! but I would agree with the pads for the beds... but dont buy the expensive pampers ones.. If you have a local H&M shop - 30 for £4.99 http://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/30-quilted-puppy-training-pads-60x60cm-244704

wik x

avantra

You will need two car seats if you have a car. I wouldn't scrimp here and if you have identical seats there are no arguments who's who.
For a 2&4 I say get a 1-2-3 group seats that can be used by both ages.

Britax 123 evolva is a well made one and currently Mother care do it for £79 but if you buy it via their mobile app you get £10 off, so buy twice to get the full discounts on two seats.

Patchwork_Quilt

Congratulations indeed!

Excellent advice here. I would also say start thinking about putting something away for Uni for both of them. It can only get more expensive. If they don't go to Uni, it can help towards a first car or a house deposit.

It seems a long way off but time flies when you're having fun.

sooty&sweep

Hi
Firstly congratulations
Lots of excellent advice here but I'd say be careful about buying too much in advance as you'll soon find out what you need lots of and lots of supermarkets open 24 hours if you're running low.
Also at 2 & 4 they'll be starting to have their favourite characters bob the builder, fireman sam etc and so would it be better to get things based on favourite characters ?
Jen

mama67

Congratulations,

I would say the best advice would be to talk to the Foster Parents/adoption officer if the boys are still in a children's home, as they will know what little quirks there are with them and then just go with the flow.
Clothes wise depending on washing and drying i would go with and outfit a day plus underwear & pjs, and then extra underwear to allow for accidents, then a waterproof coat and wellies as well as trainers.
Bedding I always went with 1 on, 1 spare and 1 in the wash which gave me a backup for accidents.

Food wise you would need to talk to Foster parents again in case there is something one of the boys really doesn't eat, as you don't want to be having battles over something like that.

Most of all, enjoy them x