Babies and Money..?

Question

My husband and I have decided that we want to have children soon however we would like to save up some money first. This will be our first baby and we don’t have anyone to borrow stuff from (like a crib ). We want to get everything new but also be on a budget. How much money do you think we need to save? I know there is no way to get an exact amount but an estimate would be nice.

Answer 1

Are you going high end or walmart?? At walmart you can get a crib for 100.00 a matress for 50.00 and a bedding set(which I have a few of and never used we always just use a crib sheet) for anywhere between 40.00-100.00. A car seat will run yuo about 80.00. and really when it comes down to it thats all the big stuff you need. Unless you want a swing/bouncer then you are looking at another 100.00 at least maybe more. Clothes- about 100.00 to start out with depening on where you shop. I added everthing up with my first and it was about 1000.00 total for everything including diper, wipes, bottles, clothes, crib and such, swing, bouncer, ect. Good luck!! :)

Answer 2

Just for baby 'stuff', I would estimate $1500-$2000 minimum for the first year. This should cover the bare minimum of furniture, car seat, clothing, diapers, and all the 'little' necessities like tylenol, a digital thermometer, baby bath, etc. This will be in addition to anything you need to save if one or both of you are taking unpaid maternity leave, or if you decide to formula feed rather than breastfeed (breastfeeding probably costs about $400 the first year, including a high quality pump, nursing bras/pads, storage bottles, etc. Formula feeding is MUCH more expensive, and depending on your formula brand can run as much as $500 a month).

However, I would STRONGLY suggest considering buying some of your items second hand. You could buy a good quality, nearly new crib at a consignment shop, for example, and buy the mattress new. The car seat should be new, but do you really need a brand new, top of the line stroller or will a second hand stroller or an umbrella stroller work just as well for you? Also, children under one year RARELY wear out any of their clothing before they outgrow it, and you can frequently buy clothing at a consignment shop, on Ebay, or at a thrift store that has been worn once or twice, or not at all, at a fraction of the cost of buying new. I know I sold TONS of clothing on ebay that my son had never worn--I took the tags off and washed it while I was pregnant, then hung it in the armoire and he outgrew it before he ever wore it. Having a baby is expensive, and buying some of the baby's necessities second hand can save you a LOT of money.

Good luck!

Answer 3

First off, the others are right, you can find a lot of stuff at consignment shops, and even Ebay.. I think if you want to feed the baby Formula there's even some formula sold on Ebay too.
Crib- 100.00
Pacifiers (5-6) 15.00 Max
u don't need a crib quilt or bumper pads or anything, it's just decoration. (they say to put nothing in the crib except a crib matress(obviously) and a crib sheet. oh and the baby (Duh!) and that's it.. to prevent SIDS) Save money here...
Car Seat 50.00-90.00 (u need this to bring baby home from the hospital)
Stroller - 70.00
I don't know of a complete list of all the mula my hubby and I spent on our baby..
Do u have any religious group of friends, that have baby stuff?
I would wait to buy some more stuff untill after the baby shower..
I never bought any of that 'Nursery water" I just think that's a waste of money..
I do know we could have benefited from saving up for dr's visits The copays can be expensive..
I would think about 1500.00 I would think.

Answer 4

crib 100- 500
sheets 30
burp cloths 20
bassinet 100 - 300
stroler/car seat combo APX 180 - 400
onsies- 30
-socks- 10
-newborn and size 1 diapers 30
-infant thermometer (rectal or pacifier type) 4 - 15
-infants tylenol (even though bottle says not under age of 2, you can give it to them when they are like 2 months old. but consult with doctor first!) 6
-waterpoof lap pads (put them in bassinet or crib) otherwise you will be washing sheets all the time! 20
-receiving blankets 30 - 50
-5 bottels of bottled infants water with flouride (unless your breastfeeding) 10
-alcohol (for cleaning newborns umbilical cord stump) should get at doctors
-safety q-tips 3 dollars
-infant towels and wash clothes 20 - 40
-baby shampoo (johnson and johnsons lavender shampoo is awesome!) 4
-baby bath (johnson and johnsons bedtime lavender is great!!) 4
-diaper rash cream (johnson and johnsons no more rash 3 in 1 is great) 6
-sunscreen 5
-vaseline (for using rectal thermo. And dry skin on face) 4
-wipes 7
-pacifiers 20
-nasal bulb aspirator (hospital should give you one) 3
-formula (if not breastfeeding....And just incase) 100
-bottles, extra nipples 10 - 30
-bottle brush, bottle rack (they work well) 5
-glycerine childrens suppositories (for constipation, for infants you can cut them in half long ways. Only use for extreme constipation.) 2
-baby lotion 4
-nursing pads 5
-breast pump 30
-cream for nipples (if breastfeedig) 6
-burp clothes 20
-newborn caps 20
-newborn non scratch mittens 20
-infant clippers 3
-orajel (you will need for teething...Comes faster than you realize!) 4
-nightlite (real nice when they start to sleep in crib, so you don't have to turn light on in middle of night when they wake up) 8
Gas drops 4
clothing in all 100
dresser 100 - 300
rocking chair or glider (you WILL want one big help) 100 - 200
diper genie 30 - 40
changing table 100 - 300
saline nasal drops (can use on newborn..2 drops each nostril to clear up stuffy nose, then suck out with bulb aspirator) 3
-vibrating bouncer 15
-swing (if you buy a portable battery operated one..Its much cheaper and works same) 20
-car seat cover if you live where its cold like me!!! 15
-baby bunting (ie: snowsuit, light sweaters) 15
Bumper pad for crib 80 for 2

I would say you want to save up about 2 - 5 grand for all the stuff you will need the first month or so but wait to buy stuff untill affter the baby shower.

some of the stuff like dipers and formula and clothing i rounded up because you have to buy multiples of these items. (and usaly lots of them) i probibly for got alot of stuff

Answer 5

You normally get all that stuff free when your friends throw you a baby shower.