Sorry to barge in... question?

I would love to start TTC and I think DH would be on board but we are worried about money and space... Space we could deal with... but about how much a month does a baby cost? DIapers, formula, food, doctors... I know everyone says you can "never afford it" but money is tight and we'd like to be in a little more comfortable position before trying...

Thanks in advance for your input!

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

hmmm...I'll give it a go...

diapers: figure 12 a day at first...and a pack of 40 can tun from $6 and change to almost $10 a pack..as the sizes get bigger. the # in packs goes down, price stays the same.

formula: we do powdered and the small can is $11 and change and lasts about a week. i just got the large can on sale for $20 plus a $5.00 coupon from enfamil--so $15 a can!!


dr visits are $20 each for co-pay.

stroller was $200, pak n play was over $100, clothes i buy 2nd hand, bassinett is on loan so it was free.

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

agree with above but also take into consideration my daughter had horrible colic and was put on special formula wich a small can was 20 dollars when she was small it lasted about a week but as she grew went through 2-3 cans per week. she also was allergic to store brand diapers and luvs so we got stuck paying for papmers or huggies which r expensive!!!

best of luck!!!! what ever you decide!!!

Message edited 1/28/2006 6:13:24 PM.

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Hmmmm I still am yet to buy diapers (yep got that many @ my shower)

Formula costs about 35/week....

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Honestly you need to be prepared for anything because you don't know what kind of baby you will have.
Sure BFing is free but what if it doesn't work out.
Sure copays every couple of months are $20 but what if you have a high needs baby (I do) and need extra doctor's visits and visits to specialists.
Needs vs wants can apply to clothes and gadgets and such but not your baby's health or nutritional needs. My daughter is on formula that is $40 a can. Visits to the specialist are $40 regular doctor visits are $20. The lactation consultant isn't covered, $50 a visit. Chiropractor not covered $25 a visit.
I know people have babies without savings and barely making ends meet all the time but honestly I have no idea how.
Sure I splurge on things we don't "need" but that's because I can. If we were on a tight budget I have no idea how we would have afforded all the medical care out daughter has needed on top of what is covered by insurance.

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Everyones baby is going to cost different amounts. I BF so I didnt need to buy formula, so if u go that route you wont have to spend money on formula. Diapers runs me about $11 dollars a week. Her Foods is like 30 dollars a week. Clothes: I got a lot from my sisters daughter, and Gift cards. Friends and family got her stuff too. My baby shower I got loads of stuff...carseats, strollers, etc.....So if u have a baby shower u can save a lot by having others get things for you. The only thing that cost us a lot was her furniture we got a Bellini. Doctor visits cost us 30 dollars a visit once a month, but that depends on your insurance. Hospital was $500 but that was also insurance. Hope this helps!

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Ihave to say Im actually shoced at how low the costs your all stating are. I have to admit I had no idea how much diapers were, and I had planned in my mind that they were MUCH more.

Of course, its still an added expensive, and you can never tell what would happen, but I kinda breathed a little easier after reading this...

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Everyone always scared me into thinking that having a baby would be a huge financial strain, but in all honesty, other than daycare, which costs us about $800/month, it's not all that bad. We buy the big, big box of diapers at Costco for like $30 and that lasts anywhere from 3-4 weeks. We also buy our wipes in bulk from Costco for about $15 and that lasts about a month. I BF so we don't spend money on formula, though I did have to spend about $180 on a good pump, and about $20 on storage bottles.

If you stick to just the necessities, like bottles, burp cloths, etc, it's not THAT much. It's only when you start to splurge, which is hard to not do , that you get into some trouble...

Re: Sorry to barge in... question?

Thank you all!!