https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:16:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive/page/2#post-210029 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:28:40 +0000 chopsuey 210029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't made too many unnecessary purchases so having a baby hasn't been too expensive for us. I nursed exclusively, made her food..<br /> The only real expense are diapers and wipes. I plan on potty training soon though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive/page/2#post-210015 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:17:38 +0000 skibobrown 210015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daycare is #1. Also, as others have said, things don't always go according to plan. We planned to breastfeed, but that didn't work out, so now we're paying $$ for formula. I've also been suckered into buying all kinds of contraptions that I really thought would make our life easier. Some pan out, and some don't. Additionally, I found that caring for an infant was a lot harder than I had imagined, so we ended up spending a fair amount of money hiring postpartum doulas, housecleaners, and other household help. We also paid for a few sessions with a lactation consultant to try to work out my breastfeeding issues. These unexpected costs add up quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive/page/2#post-210010 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:11:03 +0000 Bluebonnet 210010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The hidden costs depend on your baby. If you have a fussy/colicky baby you might be so sleep deprived and desperate for a calm baby that you buy multiple contraptions to help your baby rest comfortably/sleep. Your baby may hate the swing/bottles/bouncer/etc that you have and you'll need to buy something else. Your baby might have acid reflux and need medicine or prescription formula. Your baby might be clingy and need to be held all the time so you need a wrap or sling that you didn't anticipate purchasing. </p> <p>I haven't been a parent for long, but I do know that it never goes as you expect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive/page/2#post-209994 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:56:03 +0000 ktgee04 209994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: This is what I am worried about. I'm slowly accumulating baby gear and think I may have officially gone overboard but again, like you said, as a first-time I think I need it all! Does a LO really need a rock 'n play/pack 'n play/swing/bouncer? Probably not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209973 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:41:49 +0000 matador84 209973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell a lot of my friends who are about to start trying (when they ask the for advice of course :-)), you almost have to be prepared for the worst. When I found out I was pregnant, I had a threatened miscarriage 2 days after finding out. Because I am on a HD plan for insurance, our costs are out of pocket until deductible is met then covered 100%. So, we paid $3K out of pocket, and then our deductible started over July 1! We also were concurrently paying our "deposit" at the doctors office which requires 1/2 deductible ($1500) to be paid towards L&amp;D by the 27the week of pregnancy. Luckily, that is applied to our new deductible, but before baby is even born, we were out $4,500. </p> <p>We have been super lucky and been gifted a TON of items. I have hardly had to buy anything and we have plenty of clothes, crib, sheeting, car seat, basic essentials, and one more shower to go. If we had to buy even just the basics, we would be out significantly more money.</p> <p>My car is also 10 years old and has no side airbags in the back and a hump in the middle seat. So...we've been looking into a new car for me. It isn't a necessity, but I'll feel better about the safety issue for sure. Plus, it snows/ices here in the winter and I always have to have someone pick me up since I don't have 4WD. Now, with having to take the baby to childcare before work (another $700/month), we felt it would be appropriate to get a new car.</p> <p>So...we always talk about how blessed and excited we are to be having this baby...but it definitely hasn't come cheap! And we are bare minimum type of people. :-)</p> <p>Oh yeah...and there is the part about maternity leave--I get six weeks paid, but my personal days are being used. (I'm a teacher). If I need to go longer than six weeks, I get docked pay...another expense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209958 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:32:49 +0000 photojane 209958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: i'm lucky to have two older brothers and a sister-in-law with kids, so i already have an idea of what the useless junk is! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209953 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:30:23 +0000 banana 209953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely childcare! Hands down. Second to that would be food because we buy a lot of organics and we try to give him different variety of foods. It totally adds up! The baby gear can be costly for the first baby (furniture, stroller, swings/bouncers, clothes, diapers/wipes) but you can reuse alot of this stuff for baby #2. Also, we're constantly buying new things for our son as he gets older. Like new age-appropriate toys, clothes, shoes, books, feeding gear, etc. I find myself having to buy him new things at least every month, $100 here and there definitely adds up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209923 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:11:53 +0000 Mrs. Bee 209923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>another thing is that as a first time parent, you really don't know what you'll need, and you often end up buying more than you need. a lot of the things i thought i needed, i really didn't. but if you think it's going to make your life easier/lo happier/healthier/smarter, etc. you end up buying it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209908 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:00:23 +0000 pastemoo 209908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not working, or childcare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209902 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:57:16 +0000 mrstilly 209902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that childcare is the main expense with having children. We have very cheap childcare compared to a lot of areas, but it is still the largest expense. </p> <p>DS is 15 months old now and we've done a lot to keep costs down. </p> <p>We were gifted a lot of the baby gear (stroller, crib, bouncer, pack n play) and everything else I buy second hand. I can count on one hand the number of items for baby that I have bought new (jogging stroller and a doorway jumper). We have a great local used children's store and I also look on the Thred Up website for clothing too. I never buy full price clothing. At the local used store I can buy like new stuff (they are really picky about what they buy) for dollars. On average I'd say I spend about $3 per item. I've tried craigslist and ebay now and then, but have had less luck there unless there is something specific I want. I love to have DS in cute outfits, but then I get frustrated when they get dirty. I've learned to pick about 2 outfits per season that I love for special occasions or going out, and the rest is all basic, functional pieces. </p> <p>We breastfed for 7 months, and changed to formula. So breastfeeding is awesome if it works out. DS dropped to only one night bottle at 12 months, but we still spent over $500 on formula. </p> <p>We also cloth diaper, and it really is a cost saver in the long run. I looked for sales or bought used diapers, and stocked up when Cottonbabies has a seconds sale. But we have not found a solution for night time, so we do still have to buy disposables for night. I would say that in the last 15 months we have spent about $300 on cloth diapers (8 flip covers, 24 inserts, 6 organic inserts, 10 bum genius 4.0 pockets with inserts) and about $200 on disposables. </p> <p>We bought baby food since I don't cook and it was just a lot easier since we are on the go a lot. Amazon has a subscribe and save program which is great. </p> <p>We've really tried to cut costs. We are lucky that we have great health insurance, so the costs for prenatal care and childbirth were just about nothing. DS has had a lot of ear infections and 2 trips to urgent care, but we have a very small copay, so while it does add up, it's not a big expense. </p> <p>It is possible to have a baby on a budget, especially since there are not really a lot of things that the baby needs! a place to sleep, stuff to eat, stuff to poop in, stuff to wear and a few toys.<br /> There are fixed costs like health care and childcare, but there is really a lot of room to save on the other stuff. I know someone who spent $150 on prefolds and covers and diapered 2 kids from birth to potty training. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209880 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:48:03 +0000 ktgee04 209880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: It's a great problem to have isn't it! : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209876 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:44:14 +0000 photojane 209876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: it's amazing! I keep telling my mom that she doesn't need to keep volunteering, but I think she's more excited than I am. she's been on amazon looking at strollers and swings and all kinds of stuff -- she's out of control! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209862 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:35:50 +0000 MrsTiz 209862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: That's my situation! (Minus the actually being pregnant part haha) I know my parents would buy us anything we needed/even mentioned wanted for LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209855 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:29:19 +0000 photojane 209855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i've been thinking about this too. my husband is super stressed, because he thinks we'll be in a world of hurt, but i just don't see it. maybe i'm naive. we're blessed to have parents and families who want to help provide all the gear we'll need (stroller, crib, diaper bag, etc.). we're going light on clothing and gear--only the minimum, as i don't believe in excess. i don't think baby needs a swing, bouncer, AND jumper. plus, diapers really aren't that expensive. the only thing i foresee causing trouble is the cost of delivery. since we'll be having the baby in early february, we will have to pay the entire deductible before the insurance kicks in -- yikes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209804 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:57:19 +0000 ladyfingers 209804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not to turn this into a childcare thread but... We're trying to decide if it would make sense for us to keep bebe home until about 6 months. I'd be going back to work in May, and DH covers high school sports for the newspaper. We could get a couple of babysitters who could come watch bebe whenever DH had to leave for work -- around that time of year, usually about 3 p.m., then I get home at 6:30. Then during the summer, while he does work, it's mostly from home. So by the time his job started back up hot and heavy in the middle of August, that's at least a few months' full-time childcare expenses saved... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209803 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:56:52 +0000 eeh 209803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're fortunate that I'll be able to stay home which means no childcare expenses and our health insurance is the same for us as a family of 2 as it will be when we add our daughter to the mix. We'll actually be getting more for our money at that point.</p> <p>I think we're more nervous about the expenses as they get older. Extra curricular activities are NOT cheap. Then, if they get involved in anything competitive that involves traveling the expenses just keep adding up. Plus, they'll eventually need cars, go to dances (more expensive for a girl I think), need car insurance and gas money, college, etc. Luckily, some of those are optional expenses and we can have kids pay for some of that on their own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209796 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:53:14 +0000 MamaG 209796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Childcare! Do not procrastinate, it's not worth waiting. I waited and ended up with a daycare I don't love for $242/week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209792 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:51:37 +0000 ladyfingers 209792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: @ktgee04: True! I've heard the average here is $241/week... I'm still hoping we can find something cheaper. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209787 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:49:27 +0000 ktgee04 209787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: $400/wk is a scary number! I suppose it's all about where you live though. I live in the Midwest and it seems $150-200 per week is about average depending on if you do in-home or a daycare. How old do kids have to be to start public school?! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209784 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:47:54 +0000 Lozza 209784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Daycare costs are totally regional. The cost of a month's worth of daycare in some parts of the country wouldn't cover a week in the most expensive cities- it all depends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209783 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:47:46 +0000 plaidpants 209783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, it was a lot of little things at first that added up - diapers, clothes when she didn't fit into anything we had at home, six different kids of bottles when LO wouldn't take anything but the boob, buying a swing we didn't think we'd need, etc. And then with the combination of daycare costs and me cutting back on my hours at work, suddenly we are not as comfortable as we used to be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209771 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:41:14 +0000 ktgee04 209771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: That's a good point. The 'we plan on...' doesn't mean it's going to work out that way! I sure hope I can pump/BF but it definitely may not be in the cards for me. </p> <p>I have a nice stock of bottles now too but for all I know the lil guy will hate all of them and I'll have to start over : / </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209765 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:36:56 +0000 ladyfingers 209765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daycare and health insurance are going to be our two biggest expenses. Right now, my employer pays 100% of my premium but I'll have to contribute $350/month out of my paychecks to get bebe covered. Add in the daycare, and our life becomes a lot less comfortable. We haven't started pricing yet, but I certainly hope it's not $400/week like some others have said... yeesh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209764 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:36:03 +0000 cvbee 209764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it is:</p> <p> #1) not working (sure, I get some maternity benefits from the govt here in Canada, but it is no where near to my usual income). And when I go back to work, then daycare will be expensive. </p> <p>#2) we had to buy a new vehicle as our little pickup truck was not really baby-safe...yahoo no back seats!</p> <p>#3) okay, maybe we didn't NEED to do this, but it felt like a need. We got air conditioning installed. </p> <p>So far those are the reasons why having a baby is so expensive, even though we cloth diaper, I breastfeed, and got pretty much everything else given to us (except our carrier-wrap, and a couple minor items). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209762 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:34:56 +0000 heffalump 209762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: we had 3 brands of bottles too. Now when we have our next baby at least they will have plenty of options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209760 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:32:52 +0000 littlek 209760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: hahaha.. we had that issue with bottles... we are now on our 3rd brand.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209754 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:25 +0000 Mrs. Bee 209754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ktgee04: by gear do you mean furniture? we bought all new furniture because they have separate rooms. as far as swings, bouncers, etc I lent everything to a friend, she returned it to me, and now i'm giving it back to her so I did save that.</p> <p>i saved all of charlie's clothes in case we had another boy, and since he was a first grandchild, he had a TON of clothes and shoes. I ended up giving almost all of it away except for the newborn clothes because it was all boyish, and my mom bought us all girly clothes.</p> <p>diapers and wipes have also been a big expense..... cloth is definitely cheaper.</p> <p>and i've been buying clothes, gear, and toys used whenever I can.</p> <p>if we didn't have to pay for childcare though, we wouldn't have that many more expenses since i don't shop for myself anymore and only shop for the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209753 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:09 +0000 heffalump 209753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: we didn't want two of everything, but my lo doesn't ever like the first thing we get her. Like we bought a front to back swing but she likes the side to side swing so we got rid of the front to back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209744 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:26:15 +0000 oliviaoblivia 209744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day care and increased housing costs. We are looking for a house in a good school district and we'll be spending over $1M. If we didn't have a LO coming, we could stay where we are comfortably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-having-a-baby-so-expensive#post-209742 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:25:39 +0000 littlek 209742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Oh my gosh, we have double of everything! It definitely adds up. But we have a 3 story house and it's so worth it to have things on our 2 main levels, otherwise I'd be running up and down the stairs all the time. </p>