7th April 2009

Cost of Having a Baby (Formula, Diapers, Clothes, Baby Wipes)

15 Ways to Save In Baby’s First Year - Coming Soon! Updated 1/3/2010

A while ago, I talked about the cost of having a baby.  I know a little more than I did then a year into it.

1) Breastfeed - to save $100-$200/month and add immunity, as well as bond with your newborn.  You may have breastfeeding supply costs; however, such as breast pumps, pads, and all those attachments that go with breast pumps.  You might find you go through 1 or more breast pumps before you find one that fits your style.  If you’re lucky, and are a stay-at-home mom, and don’t have to return to work, you may not need a breastfeeding pump, and this will save a lot of money. For on-the-go moms, you might like this pump when you’re travelling for the day, and can’t afford the space of a larger pump in your briefcase.

2) Baby Formula, if you can’t or won’t breastfeed
Approximately $6 per bottle of Similac Advance & approximately 20 premixed bottles per month or $115 OR
$22 - dry powder mix; approximately 4 or month or $88/month
Ross/Abbott Labs/Similac does send rebate checks, so use them, they will save you a lot of money OR
Buy online from Amazon in bulk, and save
OR

3) Diapers - approximate .25 a diaper
Use 8 diapers a day, minimum, then you’re spending $2/day or approximately $60 a month.  But it seems like you’re spending more than that, as one big box costs around $40, if you buy in bulk, or $20 if you get the 80 diapers per box at the grocery store or Target.  There are cheaper versions but they seemed to give Melina a diaper rash.  I buy Pampers and Huggies, depending on the Phase Melina is in.  I prefer Pampers over Huggies any day, but coupons are harder to come by with Pampers.  They have coupon codes on every single box and wipes, but making time to enter those damn little codes online is hard in mommy’s first year.

4) Baby wipes - $10 a box of three packs of baby wipes.
You’ll need three boxes a month.  $30 a month, or buy online at Amazon in bulk

5) Shampoo, one bottle will last you four - five months or so.  $5 - minor expense
Many get this as a baby shower gift, so you shouldn’t have to buy shampoo for a while

6) Baby Tylenol - $10 or so - that you might need every two months or so.  And if you have a dog like mine, you seem to go through it a little faster.  I could buy two or three of these during a cold season.  I choose dye-free Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
Suggest getting a lot of this in your baby shower, ask for 5 or more on the baby shower list - you will use it

7) Teething Medicine, Tablets - $6-$10
At four months, you might need Baby Orajel - that’s about $6 a container, but my daughter didn’t like these.  Spend a few restless nights with a teething, screaming infant, and you’ll be opting for other home remedies.  Hyland’s Teething tablets are expensive at around $10, but these will last 2-3 months and seem to do the trick.

8) Clothes?  $6 a pair of pants, right?  How does that seemingly add up to $100 each time you go to Babies R Us?  It seems that with a few other things, I’m up to $100 once a month, or every six weeks or so.  I try to buy items on clearance, and I have shopped at Once Upon a Child, and of course hand-me-downs are enjoyable.  But always try to buy the next size up, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly she can fit into those clothes.   Ways to save on baby clothes expenses, according to Babycenter.com?  Make sure you’re doing as much as possible to save clothes that can get soiled.  Re-sell your clothes at Once Upon a Child, or similar place, and you can exchange clothes for new stuff.

9) Stain Remover - $10-20 so use coupons
I can’t live without Dreft Laundry Stain Remover - that stuff is magical.  It gets the worst stuff out of Melina’s clothes, even stuff that sets for a few hours.  I’ve tried to go the cheap route, but it seems every time, I end up with Dreft and it works. Buy from Amazon in larger quantities, and save.

10) Baby toys, books and DVDs - $50/month, minimum
You can also buy these at Once Upon a Child - but I was lucky enough to get some of these items in the baby shower process.  I asked for favorite books, or a book list, and most everyone took advantage of the opportunity to send something good.  Most of Melina’s books haven’t cost anything.  DVDs - I’ve purchased a couple at Babies R Us, including the Baby Einstein DVD for 3 mos.  Toys - or swings, bouncy chairs - I purchased them on Craig’s List and Once Upon a Child and saved quite a bit that way.  Also received a few items from friends who no longer needed these items, bringing a big savings that way.

If you’re not getting those items gently used, you can spend $50 a month, on average, on those items.

Baby Einstein DVD’s - these are a life-saver for the working mom, or for a single mom
My Favorite Baby Einsteins for the Baby’s First Year:
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A favorite to have on hand in the car:

Favorite books, especially those by Usborne - touchy feely books - we have each of these and she loves all of them!
& & & &

Books that have lift the flaps, or things they can discover - these are favorites after about 7 or so months:
& &

Other things to keep them busy, so you can do the dishes or run the vacuum, or just keep your sanity:
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Musically Inclined Tots?
& &

11) Babysitting - Approximately $1,600/month - if you use a sitter service, you’ll pay $8 an hour, plus $6 a sit, or thereabouts, or a nanny service might cost $1,200 placement fee, or $300 online processing fee if you do the screening.  THe monthly fee if your sitter is full-time is around $400/week or $1,600/month.

12) Daycare - probably the cheapest option I’ve seen - Kindercare cost about $700/month at the one I checked out in r Ohio.

13) Food, after six months, about $40/month unless you buy a Food Mill and make your own.  For working moms, this is a nice alternative - Earth’s Best Organic baby food:
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