How much do babies cost?

[Mabuisakura]

I would say maybe 150 a month if that. I got a ton of stuff @ my shower. I now only buy diapers and wipes. I still Breastfeed, and baby food. Plus I have friends that had children so I get a lot of good contion hand me downs. BTW formula in the states in UBER expensive. Good luck!

[dawnwes]

It completely depends on how much you wish to spend.

2nd hand items- fraction of the cost of new.
cloth diapers- very little
Breast Feeding- very little

Now, if you want to talk about daycare costs or quitting your job to stay home with the little one, that is the biggest cost.

[Nightfly]

As others have mentioned - daycare will be your biggest cost. So much so, that my "better half" (mommy) works full time; while I (daddy) stay at home with our now 2 year old during the week. I work on the weekends when I can; lately the company I work for has been slow on weekend work so I'm looking around again. BTW the biggest hassle (for me) has been finding a gig that ONLY allows me to work weekends only (no weekdays, not worth it for us), AND pays more than ten or so bucks an hour. Not as easy as you would think. Fortunately mommy has a gig that pays well and provides decent benefits. Also, I have no qualms about the woman working while I stay home. If the situation were reversed, and I had the good job - then our roles would reverse too. Ours is the most practical, money saving situation for us. About once a month we put the little one in daycare so that she's exposed to some of her own "kind"...

[greenskeeper]

health insurance for us is $236/month for our 2 year old.

The other expenses are up you to. Your infant doesn't need to have everything, or brand spanking new either.

[Nika]

Childcare is the most expensive part.
2K a month in NYC is the average (not the top end, the average).
Diapers, wipes, bottles, various devices, soft super-expensive clothing, etc... those are up to you.
I had every intention of being a reasonable mother, but something happens to you hormonally, especially with the first baby, and you go off the deep end.

Also, when it comes to swings and all that... had no intention of getting them before the baby, but when you are in the game you will pay ANYTHING for even a possibility of extra sleep.

[photo]

I always laugh at the extravagant figures. Other than a car seat (unless you live in the city and never drive) and possibly a crib, you don't need all that expensive junk that Toys'R'Us thinks you do. In fact, swings and walkers have been shown to impede a baby's development.

Use cloth diapers, nurse your baby, and get some used clothing (which are better for babies anyway, because they're softer and don't usually have the loose strings of newer clothing, which can get caught on baby's toes), and you won't spend anything near the projections.

Babies need your time much more than your money. (The exception is if the baby becomes ill, of course.)