new babies expensive?

[prosper]

Im probably going to be crucified for this, but I have two young kids and I have yet to understand why babies are so expensive. If your kids are in daycare I understand and would agree that they are expensive. However, I've come across many people whose kids are not in daycare and claim that kids are expensive. Any thoughts?

[sweeps]

Crib, pack n' play (if you travel), car seats, strollers, diapers, formula (if not breastfeeding), bottles, food, milk, clothes, shoes, daycare (or possible loss of income if one parent stays home), toys, bedding, extra laundry expenses, doctor visits, immunizations, an ER visit or two, pictures, video, college savings, ..... Shall I go on?

[Caoineag]

Disposable diapers. When my parents had me, my diapers took up half of their income. It was they only reason they considered me expensive. I would imagine that cloth diapers are a little less pricey.

[prosper]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Crib, pack n' play (if you travel), car seats, strollers, diapers, formula (if not breastfeeding), bottles, food, milk, clothes, shoes, daycare (or possible loss of income if one parent stays home), toys, bedding, extra laundry expenses, doctor visits, immunizations, an ER visit or two, pictures, video, college savings, ..... Shall I go on?

Most of the things you mentioned are one time expenses, assuming that you are buying brand new, that most people should have saved for before the child is born. Also, most people I know have baby showers that eliminate the need to buy some of these things. I just bought a convertable stroller for $100 that will last at least 4 years. Agian, this is under the assupmtion that the parent will not pursue used items.

I also have a convertible crib that will last for at least 5 years. Again, I have two kids, one 6 weeks and and the other 3 1/2 years old. Maybe I should clarify my post and say that my personal experience has not brought me to the conclusion that babies are really that expensive with the exception of daycare. From a monthly operating expense perspective, my budget has increased very insignificantly.

[MangoMomOf4]

I don't find them expensive. many items mentioned are given as gifts, passed down or can be purchased very cheaply preused- just do your research in regards to recalls and such. Clothing can be pciked up dirt cheap- yard sales, salvation army, clearences at stores, etc. I refuse to spend much on younger (baby) clothing, they were it a couple of times, if you are lucky, before outgrowing them.

We have 4 kids age 1 to 6 and I am due again in 3 weeks. Items that can be handed down are. And many items that parents "feel" they need, they really don't- babies do not require all the gizmos out there

[sweeps]

1. One-time expenses are still expenses. And if you saved for them in advance, great, but they are still expenses.
2. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have everything gifted to them. Yes, if family and friends give you a bunch of stuff, it wouldn't be expensive for you. But that's like saying houses aren't expensive -- assuming someone's buying the house for you.
3. What about diapers and wipes? Those are expensive. What about formula for mothers who can't breastfeed.
4. You can't exclude daycare. And for those parents who stay home instead, how much income are you giving up?
5. Doctor visits. Do you pay a higher premium because you're covering kids rather than just you and/or a spouse? I bet you are. How about the increased co-pays?
6. Life insurance. Did you increase your life insurance because you have kids?
7. Vehicles. Did you have to get a larger car because you have kids?
8. What about utilities. Do you keep the house warmer in the winter because of the kids? Do more laundry?
9. Housing. A family with 4 kids probably can't stay in that 1-bedroom apartment any more -- need to get something bigger.

I think if you look at all these things and compare them to what you could get by on without any kids, you'll find them to be expensive.

[DebbieL]

I certainly didn't find my daughter expensive. I breast fed so no expense there. I bought the no name brand diapers and had some cloth ones for back-up that were given to me. Most items you can get as hand me downs. I had so much clothing given to me for her, some of it I never got to put on her before she had outgrown it.

PS - She's 16 now. They get more expensive as they get older. As babies they are cheap (so long as you don't need daycare which I didn't).

[simpleyme]

doctors! insurance does not pay squat and doctors charge a fortune

[geojen]

I have a 4-month old right now. He is my first. I think that our biggest expense is formula, because I cannot breastfeed. He goes through a can of formula every 4-5 days. At 22.00 bucks a can, that adds up fast. We use cloth diapers so that helps. If we had to do disposables plus the formula, whooeee.

[Goldy1]

I breastfeed my infant son but it requires me to eat more so I spend a bit more on food although not a ton. I had to buy a $250 pump or else I could never leave the house or get a break.
Diapers are expensive(about 20 cents each or so if bought at sam's and I can go thru 3 in a hour at times)
It is relative. If for instance a baby costs $200 a month(I am just making up a number here) that night be a lot to someone or not much at all to the next guy.
I don't think the little guy costs that much but I find I get nickel and dimed on stuff le $5 here and there on him where that cach would stay int he bank.
He's worth every dime though and I cherish him b/c he's my first and last child.
loss of income=mega huge for me! lol

[DebbieL]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

doctors! insurance does not pay squat and doctors charge a fortune

I'm Canadian so that is not an issue for us at all, but I can see how it would be a consideration in the States.

[MonkeyMama]

Health Insurance & Dentist. College.

Before kids we blissfully paid $100/month for health insurance. 2002. This year we will pay $10k for just the INSURANCE. Family insurance is not cheap. Single person insurance (our age) is at least still reasonable. Has not gone up near as much.

I spent $3k at the dentist last year.

If we both worked we may increase our odds of insurance coverage through work. But we don't both work. If we didn't have kids our income would be $150k today vs. $75k. But the second income wouldn't be so big since my spouse has not worked many years, and looking at the daycare and taxes, going back to work is not a great option. The lost wages are just mind blowing though.

Yeah, I think kids are expensive.

I agree with the OP on the little things. The little things are not expensive, in my opinion. But the big things are BIG.

I always cringe when soon-to-be-parents are trying to get a handle on costs and asking about diapers and strollers. They should be worried about medical coverage (starting with the pregnancy) and college.

[Goldy1]

yes I agree with your perspective on insurance and daycare being the big expenses and college.
10k for insurance per year certainly is mind boggling. yikes. sure hope that is without a big deductable. I have not even priced individual family plans. The single person plans, although not cheap, were not astronomically high if one is willing to have a high deductable, but not cheap(I spent much time pricing them to buy in lieu of Cobra after dh was laid off). It was unfortunate b/c I felt my options were spend a lot of insurance he most likely won't use for a comprehensive plan(no pre exisiting conditions for him) or but a cheap bare bones policy that won't pay much if something did happen making me feel vulnerable.

The insurance is the thing I worry about the most and no one should have to worry about losing thier assets b/c a family member falls ill, but unfortunately that is the case esp if not insured.

[GoodBuyGirl]

Before I had my 1st I was going out blowing money on what nots and partying. I never complained about that being expensive.
Kids only take away some of the freedom you have with what you do with your money.

[globetraveler]

We do not have any children YET. But for a reference I thought I would tell you that Insurance (medical / dental / optical) that I get through my company for my wife and I costs us $340 a month. We are 30 and 28yr old, non smokers.

Now as soon as we have a child, my rates will shoot up to $550 a month.

So $210 extra to cover a child. The only upside to this is that it will stay $550 a month no matter how many children we decide to have, as long as I work for this company of course, which I hope is a long time.

I hate paying more, but we really do want children, so we feel that we can bear the extra expense.

[tripods68]

Originally Posted by prosper

Im probably going to be crucified for this, but I have two young kids and I have yet to understand why babies are so expensive. If your kids are in daycare I understand and would agree that they are expensive. However, I've come across many people whose kids are not in daycare and claim that kids are expensive. Any thoughts?

College education, clothing, family vacation, school trips, summer camp, new clothes, toys, medical expenses, hoard more food. That's a lot to take it without sacrificing retirement savings and/or building some emergency fund. I could go on, but you know what i'm getting at.

Oh by the way, not that I'm complaining by mentioning this. But my 5 year old is now attending private preschool (Catholic school) and my daughter will be going as well this fall. So we're looking to spend as much as $700 a month for the next school year. By the time our daughter start attending kindergarden next year, the cost will have increase to $1K per month combined. But that's a personal choice that we are prepared to make which is tide to our family budget. We don't have any credit cards anymore and will be paying off our Odyssey this summer so we can afford it.

[PrincessPerky]

I think kids are less expensive than many things, but I also can tally up dentist bills, dr bills (just check ups even) and the like and it does add up.

But...not the little things, those are pretty cheap or easy to do without.

Gma just asked me what size I buy for my kids, I honestly couldn't think of anything I have bought them in ages...shoes, I do tend to buy them but all the other essentials are usually hand me downs.

On the other hand I just paid a $300 Dental bill..just regular cleanings and checkups on 3 kids.

Education on the other hand is cheap, we homeschool. cheap homeschool.

[Johansen8]

having a baby can be as expensive as you want it to be.depending were you shop.you don't have to buy a baby everything.buy the basics.and loving your baby is the most inexpensive thing you can give it

[arthurb999]

I have a 16 month old and most of our stuff was gifted so I didn't find him that expensive. Sure diapers, wipes, etc.,... but you got to plan for that.

[Goldy1]

I also think that when they are looking to lay someone off at my dh's last company, they target those ont he family medical plan as it costs them more. (single guy vs person on the family plan)
They just called back a guy who does not take the insurance at all b/c he gets it from his wife so they pay him a pittance like $100 a month to not take company insurance. You have to be prepared in this world to not rely on your employer for medical coverage for short or long term.