[wannabamom]

baby per month??????- approximately for a baby per month?????? I'm just trying to get a feel for becoming a MOM!!!!!!!-- OMG, I can't even believe I said that!!!!!!

I just want to know so that DH and I can plan.

Thanks all,

Hope everyone has a WONDER-FUL Weekend!!!!!!!!!

[saranbr]

I think your answer depends HUGELLY on variables like childcare or not, medical issues (and your insurance coverage for normal stuff), and of course, how willing you are to use used clothing, furniture, etc.

[WesieMom]

I second saranbr's response to the thread. You have to count in there formula, food, diapers etc. It would be hard to judge per month. I have 2 bio babies 8 & 10 years old. It would be hard for me to figure a amount for them per month. There is always something someone needs money for.

Good luck,
lisa

[Mindybeth6]

I personally think its impossible to judge how much is spent a month. There always unforseeable expenses...DR visits, new clothes becasue old one were stained of have been outgrown, the list goes on. And I personally do not feel that a baby is any more "expensive" then an older child. THe money just goes to different things when they are older. It never ends really. I don't even try to calculate how much I spent on our bio son a month. I probably do not want to know...becasue we spoil him rotten.

Hugs

[mommywannabee]

I'm curious about this myself. Maybe you guys can tell us an average of the number of diapers used daily - how many bottles of baby food do you go through - how fast do they grow out of clothing and do you recommend buying them big since they grow fast...stuff like that.

Once there is an estimate on these things, we could probably get a guestimate as to what the budget will be by going on-line and seeing what things like diapers and food cost.

[Pipercub]

With my daughter, I found that I was spending apx $14 a week on formula, $15 a week on diapers (we used LUVS; Pampers or Huggies would be more expensive - but if you sign up on their websites they will send you coupons for $2-$3 just about every month). Once she started "solids" (jar baby food), we gave her one jar of vegi/meat each day and supplimented with mashed up versions of real food (meaning the rest of her food was what we ate, but mashed up - bananas, apple sauce, yogurt, etc.) So since we only used a jar a day, probably just $4 a week on that. A box of the baby rice cereal mixed with water, yogurt, apple juice or formula lasts a good long while too and only costs about $3 a box. I was always religious about putting on diaper cream (zinc oxide) with every diaper change to prevent any diaper rash, so we spent about $3 a week on the cream. (A lot of people just use the cream when their baby has a rash, so that was just personal preference.) Baby lotions and bath stuff last a good long while, so it wasn't a weekly recurring expense. All in all, I'd say we probably spent about $140 or so a month on the "big" stuff.

We got a ton of clothes from grandma (first grandbaby) and also a lot from garage sales for CHEAP (like twenty-five cents an outfit). Our daughter changed sizes apx every three months until she was about 15 months old. (She is above average height; wore three-four year old clothes at age 2) Once I realized that all I really needed were a couple pairs of pants and shirts (we LOVE the sweatpants) and just a few nice "going out" outfits, I didn't spend so much on clothes. At one time, I figured she had so many clothes that we'd be lucky if she wore each outfit once! She really needed far less clothes than we thought she would.

Hope this helps!

~Piper
Happy Mama to Liliana Grace (Sept 2002)
Signing with agency to adopt Susanna Joy on May 6th!

[kcbailey777]

I will try to help.

I pay $163 per month on insurance. Children go to the doctor at 6 months, 9 months, and one year. It cost $20 per visit.

I use Walmart brand formula at $12.00 per can and it last about 2 weeks. Baby food is $.40 per jar on sale. I use about 4 or less per day. I also feed my 11 month old yogurt, cottage cheese, and cheese. These items don't add too much to the cost.

You will use on average one diaper every two hours. This adds up to 6 to 10 diapers per day. I pay $11.00 per 80 pack of Luvs diapers on sale. Diapers can cost upwards of $20 for 80 depending on where you buy them, what type and if they are on sale.

On average your child will out grow his or her clothes every three months. It all depends on the child and how he or she grows. How much clothes cost will depend on your spending habits and where you purchase them. If you shop garage sales and resale shops you can really cut this cost. I don't spend very much on clothes because I received a lot of gifts and hand me downs. I also shop in the resale shops and garage sales. You could easily spend $50 per month if you shop at retail stores often.

The cost of the equipment you will want and need will cost a lot depending on where you shop and what others give to you. I didn't spend very much at all and my daughter has just about anything you can think of. I have very generous friends and family and I shop garage sales and resale shops.

I hope this helps.

Lisa

[StorkWatcher]

Just a few little tips, but every little bit helps:

I was just trying to figure out today how much formula we're going through a week. We probably do 4-5 6 oz bottles (at least, this week) and have rice and baby food 2 - 3 times a day. I will hope to be soon making much of our baby food. I think the non-organic jars I bought yesterday were 34 cents each and I like to get organic, which are around 54 cents. Seems like we go through 1 to 1 1/2 jars a day, and we're really just starting to eat solids now, so it will grow soon.

I have 13 bottles and wash them every day or two. I'd imagine you could get by w/ fewer if you wash more often. We use Enfamil Lipil and depending on which Walmart/Target/Meijer we shop at the price varies by up to $5 a can for our brand/kind!

Diapers - we change often. Sometimes every 2 hours, unless needed more. I use Pampers. They've recently lowered prices, and I have a coupon every time for them. Yesterday I bought a "small" (called Jumbo - qty 72, I think) pack for $ 17 something, but had a $ 1.50 coupon. Several people get along fine w/ cheaper and store brand diapers and wipes, though. Same w/ formula.

Doctor's visits are something - see if your insurance pays for well-baby visits and immunizations. Ours does not! But our doctor codes our well-baby visits if we have a legitimate concern so they're mostly taken care of. Shots at our doctor are $ 350 a pop, so he said it was perfectly fine to have them done at our local health dept for $ 2.00 (yes $2!) per time.

On the positive side, I use a lot less gas since babe was born, don't shop for myself anymore (Starbucks treats don't count here, right? Can't cut those out!), don't have time to buy frivolous things, and we don't eat out as much. So I save compared to what I used to spend.

Clothes - I love second hand stores for some things, Walmart adn Target have nice inexpensive things, and I catch sales at Baby Gap and nicer stores. Do you laundry often and you really don't need too many things. (And if you're like us, we didn't have to start buying clothes until he was 6 mos because of all the gifts we'd received!) I've had to move up sizes about every 1 - 2 months....

[LostMangoInParis]

Don't forget you don't HAVE to use disposable diapers. I know the odd (no pun intended) person that uses them because she is concerned about environmental issues.

I once read that by the time the baby is two that you'll have changed 2000 diapers!

[TerriBB]

Are you going to work outside the home? The #1 cost will then be daycare and that varies by city (ours is a center $1200/month).

Your healthcare will increase, check with your employer. Compare who has the better plan if you each carry your own. (Our son had many ear infections - $30 co-pay per visit....18 visits the first year + Rx each visit.)

Diapers, it depends upon brand name or store brand - about $20 per week. (cut coupons...we've never purchased them without a coupon!)

Formula, it depends upon brand name or store brand - toward our son's first birthday - 2 cans of Similac per week.

Jarred food was about $3 per day - he only ate it a few months, much preferred our food from the table! We ended up giving most of it to a food pantry.

Clothes, that is all over the place! I LOVE sales and I always "prebuy" coats, boots & jackets at clearances. I also enjoy going to re-sell it shops.

Shoes, if you have odd sized feet - Striderite $40 per pair every 3-4 months.

We registered for the larger items, such as the pack-n-play, stroller & car seats. Our car seats go from 5 - 60lbs.

If you can get some things at re-sell it shops, such as exersausers...extra stroller for the car. Most of the items you use for such a short period of time!

Some things cost a lot less once you have kids . A trip to the park on a Saturday evening is really cheap! Walking around the block and picking up acorns. Going to the mall and throwing pennies in the mall. The coffee shop for a shared bagel (bread machine sliced) another popular entertainment dollar. You will rent more movies...is it worth getting a sitter to sit in the dark & watch a movie. You will save money by eating dinner at family style restaurants - those with good kids meals that get you in/out quickly! You won't drink too much when you are out either...sleeping in will become a thing of the past!

[Slatond10]

Most of the responses probaby have you covered but I have to admit I was SHOCKED at the montly cost of being a Mom!


$100-150 incr in insurance
$40-60 co-pay for Dr. appt the first 6 months at least
$60 -90 1 / large can of formula / week x 4
$30 diapers -- If you buy the large pack @ Sam's
$25 wipes
$25-50 misc creams / med's ( Tylenol, etc)
$600-800 daycare
clothes ( I used hand-me-downs)
shoes " "
baby-sitting ( use family for free for this)
Average total : $880-1205

I am queen of hand-me-downs, garage sales and thrift & consignment shops. And definitely appreciate the kindness of my friends and family when they have something ( babysitting, toys etc) to share!

[StorkWatcher]

Ouch - that daycare is a killer! I guess that would make it easier if one is weighing the cost of working vs. SAHM (unless you're like us and the insurance coverage is dependent on mom's job)....

We have one SAHD and grandmas who help (for FREE) some w/ daycare...I will continue to count those blessings.

[dspakowsky]

We buy our diapers at Sams, so we get 168 for only $29.98. We buy formula in bulk too.

Diapers, cream, lotions cost about $40 per month. Formula costs about $75 per month. Baby food about $15 per month. So that's $130 a month.

Other posters already mentioned other costs. If your child is in a daycare, your diaper costs might be higher because they change the babies diaper every hour no matter what.