Are babies really THAT expensive??

Question

I'll first explain my situation. I'm a married and a stay at home mom to a beautiful six month old son. We do have insurance that has limited co-pays and I do not breastfeed. I don't understand why people say babies are so expensive. We buy brand name Pamper diapers and off-brand Parents Choice formula. We also buy solids and snacks for our son. So far I have bought him sassy toys, an exersaucer, swing, convertible car seat, stroller with car seat, High Chair, and a few lay down toys. Our monthly income is approximately. $1,400. Besides the toys, books and the clothes (most clothes are bought by relatives) which we buy sparingly I think it only costs us about $80-$100 a month? Have I not hit the height of child expenses? How much do you spend a month on your infant/child? Thank you for your answers and opinions!

I forgot to add that he's in the military so...rent and utilities are free. Our car is paid off. That's why we weren't scared. We save about $500 a month. We have cable, internet, a cell phone, and a credit card. Which we make more than the min. payment for each month.

Answer 1

The 'Babies are Expensive' thing.. isn't supposto be taken literally.. they don't mean that "babies" are expensive.. they mean that having CHILDREN is expensive.. Just consider that you're going to have that kid living with you until he's 18 years old and goes away to college.. You're looking at over $500,000 to have this child.. clothe him, feed him, put him through elementary, middle and high school.. buy him toys and things that he wants to have.. And if you're going to pay for his college education.. add on about $100,000 more..

That's $600,000 dollars.. you had a baby.. and by the time he's gone.. that's what THAT ONE BABY is going to cost you.

Answer 2

Well, we spend probably around this much a month:

$20 diapers a week= $80
$35 formula a week= $ 140
$8 misc meds (tylenol, decongestant) a week= $32
$15 lotions & shampoos (specialty eczema ones)= $60
$10 solid foods a week= $40
$5 misc clothing a week= $20
$5 toys a week= $20
monthly total= $390
That's figuring that a month has 4 weeks & all the prices are subject to change cuz sometimes he eats more than that & sometimes we don't get him extras like toys, but that's average. He's 6 months old & is on Medicaid, so I can only imagine how much it would be if we didn't have insurance. So *my* baby is expensive LOL We didn't buy most of our equipment like crib, car seat, activity wheel, swing, jumperoo, etc. they were all bought for us at my babyshower. Thank God I had some help, we wouldn't be able to afford it, I'm a sahm (we can't afford another car or babysitter, so I have no way to work) & my b/f does construction during the day & goes to college full time in the evenings. We barely make it some months & only pay minimuns on our credit cards. I wish we had it better, but our son was unexpected, but we wouldn't change it for all the money in the world. :D

Answer 3

Well, I spend a bit more on diapers and formula, she is on Isomil Advance which costs us about 120.00 a month. The diapers cost about 30.00 a month. So, it is about 170.00 a month right now. I also have an 11 year old-it gets more expensive as they age. There was before and after care (I work outside the home) which was anywhere from 200 to 400 a month over the years. There was private kindergarten which was 1000 a month because there was no full day in our public school. Then comes the shoes for 40.00 every two months as their feet grow and then the video games and the video game systems and the new clothes every season since they keep growing and cannot wear the same things.......... I could go on forever. But, honestly, there are ways to get what you want and need in your budget. So, if you do not overextend yourself and have a steady, monthly income you are usually OK. (Unless you live in Jersey, like us, where everything is overpriced) Good luck with your new baby!

Answer 4

Our rent and utilities are not free.My husband makes 1600 a mth and our bills add up to 700 not counting gas and groceries.We have a 13 mth and 5 yr old.We are completely broke and live pay check to paycheck.Though are kids do not go w/out.We spend about 100 a mth just on the baby(diapers,wipes,food and clothes)It gets expensive and when they r older you have school supplies,clothes,lunch money 2.20 a day and they tend to want things that cost alot more.Bikes,swimming pools stuff like that.I am also a stay at home mother.At least you r able to save now.Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Oh the joys of when your relatives bought stuff for you. Trust me that novelty will soon wear off and slowly but surely relatives will stop buying your kids stuff. Mind you Babies arent so bad in the money department its pretty basic i mean you pick what they eat and wear, its when they start goiing to school. Soon they wont want to wear what mommy picks out and want that certain kind of running shoe, or certain type of jeans. Then they are gorwing out of shoes and clothes and you have to buy them new stuff like once a month. Then they want to join that hockey or soccer team, sure it seems ok like a great idea, but then they find out they are kind of good at it and want to join the Rep/Allstar teams which run you hundreds of dollars on top of really expensive equipment and how can you say no right they are your children you want to give them everything they want. Oh and dont forget about putting some money away from your $1400 a month income for college or universtiy. Cause by the time your child hits college or university the price will be so outrageuos you will wish you had put the money away when they were babies.
I just finished buying my son who is 9 years old in grade 5 his school stuff... I spent over $800. Thats clothes, shoes, books, pencils, crayons, lunch bags, book bag etc.. The amount of money i will spend on the ridiculous school snacks and lunches he wants for the year will far outway the $800 i just dropped. Not to mention i will have to repeat the buying of all these school supplies at least 1 more time during the school year because it is true what they say little boys are hard on things. I just finished soaking money into an entire summer of driving to soccer games all over southern Ontario, not to mention the $85 sign up fee, thenon top of that the $200 fee for the rep team and $100 for the track suit, $100 soccer cleats and shoe bands, $50 ball. Now we are gearing up to do it all again for the Indoor soccer season, which means more fees more shoes to buy more uniforms to buy.. Well you get the hint, enjoy it while you can its going to get worse trust me.

Answer 6

No you haven't even come CLOSE to the height of child expenses. Just for the heck of it, multiply this piddling amount you are now spending by 12 and that figure by 22. That's over 26 thousand and your $100 per month is going to skyrocket when they hit school, high school is much, much more expensive not to even begin to think about college. Then you add in lessons, sports and other activities. You $100 a month is what they call chump change.

Answer 7

The infancy years are the cheapest. As they get older relatives buy less, they want more and it is harder to keep up with things. You can buy a whole wardrobe now for what will cost for 1 shirt when he is a teenager. You may say now that you won't go for the designer stuff but you won't want your child to stand out as the class nerd. All of the little toys together might cover the cost of a bicycle and they will still need a skateboard, cost of soccer camp, etc. Hopefully no braces are needed. Enjoy it while you can.

Answer 8

This is just the beginning! You do have the comfort in knowing that the second one will be able to use a lot of hand-me-downs so it won't cost quite as much. Don't throw anything away!
Start preparing more foods that you can mash until the little one can chew table food. Since you are a stay-at-home mom, consider using the old idea of cotton diapers. Store bougt are VERRRY expensive.

Answer 9

I think initially you are right yes they are not as expensive as people say...But alot of new mums quit work in order to look after their child so there is a loss of income associated with a new baby...maybe this is where the theory comes from.
Initially I agree they are quite cheap but the costs just increase as the child grows. Soon toys, more food, clothes, shoes, school stuff, health care, presents for other kids birthdays...

Answer 10

I'll tell you...I felt the same way when we had our first...of course we were also living rent free had only one car which was paid off etc. We are now on our 4th...have a 1200.00 house payment, a 430.00 car payment and 6 mouths to feed. Plus all of our utilities and not to mention the price of groceries and clothes for 4 children. The two older ones are in school now and involved in sporting and extra curricular activities which all cost money. Enjoy it now...it won't last forever. Take it from me...Children cost money!