On the average, how expensive are babies in their first year, per month?

Question

I am pregnant with our first child and trying to adjust our budget to include the baby. But I don't really know what to expect. I know I need diapers and maybe formula, but what else is there that I will have to buy on a regular basis?

Answer 1

We send about 40 bucks a month on diapers and average out about 20 a months for incidentals like office visit copays etc-- the first year is probably going to be the cheapest since you'll likey get most of the essentials from showers etc. Consider breastfeeding its a HUGH budget saver!

Answer 2

The biggest expense is child care (if you are a working mom) we pay about $2.50/hour for our child care. We spend about $400/month.Then the next biggest expense is formula. Which varies based on age of baby ( a rough estimate would be about 1/2 can/week for 1-3 months and 1-1 1/2 cans/week for 3-9 months). Based on which formula you buy and where you live a can of formula can cost from $10-$40. Then diapers which can range from $5-$20/ pack. The older the baby the less diapers you will need. On average for our 7 month old we spend about $40/month on diapers, we use White Cloud from Wal-mart at $14 for 100 diapers. Clothing is another expense that can vary along with bathing products, laundry soap, and toys. I would say on average we spend about $600 dollars a month on our baby (that includes child care). I hope this helps and I wish you luck with your baby!

Answer 3

I just had a baby in March. Breastfeeding cut down to 0 on formula - and I always hear women say "I'll try it" as if it won't work or something - it is very rare for a woman not to be able to breastfeed - but it can be hard for some - but not all. My little one was quick to learn but waking every 2 hours to feed was still tough for a while but I wouldn't have changed that for anything. Oh and a baby really cannot be allergic to your milk - it was made for your child - but a baby could rarely be allergic to something you are eating - see my sources for info - but like I said - rare.

As for diapers - we started with pampers because thats what the hospital gives. You will have to try a bunch of brands to see what you like best but we found Parent's Choice at walmart is very similar to pampers and its $3 cheaper a package so we use that.

Always stock up on clothes in the off season or you will go broke quickly. The great thing about stores is that they start having sales midseason because they are getting ready for the new season. Consignment shopes are awesome - my personal preference is Once Upon a Child (http://www.ouac.com) - they sell gently used kid's clothes.

You will get a lot of clothes at showers but usually just cute stuff - kid's don't walways wear cute stuff - try and get some onsies (long sleeve for winter) and sleepers - I prefer ones with feet but some love the sleep sacks.

Baby gear is mostly expensive upfront - so hopefully you get a lot at the shower but if not - that will probably be your biggest cost - crib could be 150-400 depending on preference, stroller/car seat combo - could be 150-300 again.. and so on..

Ongoing expenses are basically diapers (ave about 8-12 a day for a newborn), formula if you choose it (friends have told me they could go through 1-2 cans a week), doc visits (birth, couple days later, 2 monsth, 4 months, sometimes 5, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months), medicine like tylenol and mylicon for fevers and gas (like $10-15 between the 2.

I agree with others - 1st year will be the least expensive most likely. My sister has a 4 yr old and whenever we ask her what she needs for her bday she tells us the next size up/next season clothes so that way she has less to buy - and I think 'll be adopting that practice as well.

Congrats and good luck :) sry if any typos, once handed typing with squirmy baby....

Answer 4

Ok, first of all if you qualify for WIC get on it. It will be a life saver for formula which can average to about $120-$200 monthly. I will say that the off brand (Parent's Choice) at Wal Mart is exactly the same as Enfamil. Diapers on average about $100 monthly and wipes at $20 monthly. So you look at about $300-$350 monthly unless you get on WIC which will cut it down by about $150. Start stocking up on diapers now. Buy 1 or 2 packages of newborns and a lot of size ones. That's what I did. As soon as I found out I was pregnant we started stocking up on diapers, wipes, etc. Maybe just buying on package of diapers every pay check for a start. Trust me you'll be glad you did it. Bibs, burp rags, and bottles are also things you want to start on early. Congrats!

Answer 5

Babies arent as expensive as everyone thinks in the first year. I had a baby when i was 21 my baby is now 10 months old and me and my bf are doing fine. No problems with money, im not working and im not on mat. leave either, and when we 1st had her he was still in school. I think i spent about 60$ a month on the basic stuff(diapers and formula) that will change as your baby gets older or when you need more stuff... like one month you might need wipes, but then you might not have to buy them the next month, same with soaps and all that kinda stuff. Its not that bad. I would say no more than 100$ a month

Answer 6

Well where do you live. I live in Oklahoma and formula cost about $100/mo, baby food would cost about 30-40/month when they start eating baby food. Diapers cost abut $60/month. Daycare cost about $400/mo. Plust clothes for the baby. That just depends on where you buy them. I suggest if you are ona budget, like me that you buy baby clothes at consignment stores. My children have all nice, name brand clothes, and almost all of them come from consignment stores. I wll not spend a lot of Money on their clothes b/c they grow out of them so fast. Then, there are doctor bills and medicine for the baby. It is hard to say how much they cost. You never are as prepared as you think you are. Since you are on a budget...if you can get it try to get WIC. It is really helpful for formula!!

Answer 7

Sofia is Bulgaria's capital and its biggest city. Sofia was started thousands of years back and nowadays is a city that remains to develop since the country's ethnic and economic heart and now you could have the chance to visit it hotelbye . Sofia preserves several important monuments to its extended and storied past. Readers discovering the city's roads could see remnants of The Eastern Gate from the times when Sofia was Serdika and Sredets, relationship from the 2nd-4th centuries CE. These remains are exhibited in the underpass linking the Presidential Palace and The Ministerial Council, surrounded by shops offering standard Bulgarian gifts and rosewater. The Saint Sofia Basilica is one of the treasures of Sofia. Is one of many oldest churches in the capital and was the city's major church throughout the Middle Ages, and beneath the Ottomans it was used as a mosque.

Answer 8

The first 3 months were completely free because he breast fed and everyone kept giving us stuff...

When I went back to work we spent per month:

60 -formula
900- daycare (45/day full time)

960/month

Shots will be around 120 every 3 months

Plus you will want to add in all of the toys and clothes you'll buy him/her

Answer 9

You are going to need to get wipes, diapers, formula, you might also have to try different bottles every so often, and speaking from experience you are prob. going to be spending around 200 dollars a month for a baby.
But, hey it is worth it.
Congratulations!

Answer 10

My baby "cost" very little. I breastfed exclusively then added some babyfood at about 7 months.
We also cloth diaper, which saves a ton of money. My son is 19 months old andi have spent less than $200 on diapers total!