May 2017 Moms
starphish18
member
Options
Costs for Baby in the 1st Year
starphish18
member
I've been trying to get a realistic budget in place for how much I'll be spending on Baby in the first year, but I'm finding a lot of varying estimates online. Obviously, costs will vary a bit according to each baby's specific needs, by state, etc. However, I'm hoping STM+ could help out and share an estimate of what they paid on a monthly basis for "grocery" items like diapers, formula, wipes, etc. and what they paid over the first year for things like medical costs, clothes, etc. This would NOT include childcare costs (although you're welcome to share that as a separate category, as well). This is also assuming furniture and big-ticket items (car seat, stroller, etc) have been taken care of beforehand. Thanks! ETA: Also, any costs you encountered that you were entirely unprepared for?
Re: Costs for Baby in the 1st Year
I found every size cost $200-$300 for new onesies, Jammie's etc. I was buying mostly Carters and Gap first hand.
Diapers also are a surprise. The big box of pampers is about $42-45 and I think we used 2 a month of those early on? Newborns burn through those things and if they go to daycare they change hourly so buy a LOT. We may have been buying 3-4 cases a month so $150 or so sounds right, maybe someone else can corroborate?
breastfeeding was pricy up front with the pump and bottles for daycare but then leveled out. I did pay $150 for a home visit fora lactation consultant because the hospital one was terrible. After that I spent maybe $20 a month on those medela microwave sterilizing bags, pump membranes, etc.
the first couple months had the most oh shit incidentals from Prime so that was an extra $300 or so? Things like an extra diaper genie because I didn't want to hike upstairs for changes, more of the one type of swaddles that worked for him etc. after that it's really just splurges on toys and things you want to get them. Early mom paranoia about development and desperate purchases if you have a bad sleeper fuel this lol.
My medical costs were $0 because my husband is military so I'm no help there. They do have check ups at like 2w, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 months so I guess copay for those at a minimum? Again if you use daycare they will get sick and you will get worried a ew times so throw in some plans for extra visits. Most things we experienced were cured with time and sleepless nights though so it wasn't costly in a material way.
Our daycare is quite inexpensive at about $640 a month and he started part time at 8w and full time at 12w. If you don't know your local daycare costs definitely get calling and looking, it is mostly a guy feel decision and a lot have waitlists.
May '17 labor memes
I will add that breastfeeding supplies *are* tax deductible! Something to do with health expenses. We use a tax accountant so I don't know all the exact details, but I recommend looking into that! Also, your childcare costs are tax deductible if your going that route!
One more thing I wanted to clarify was the medical expenses. My husband is also military so we have 0 out of pocket costs, but I wanted to add that ALL of your child's well care visits and immunizations should be covered at 100% for any health insurance plan. So no deductible/copays for those visits.
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
It kind of seems like diapers are going to be the biggest cost, which makes sense. Fortunately, we're lucky to be in a location where we can buy Huggies at warehouse cost (which is basically 30-60% of normal cost at Target or wherever else), so that will really help, assuming our kid does ok with Huggies.
Thanks for the responses so far. I'm interested to see how others' experiences compare.
I've actually been stocking up on diapers throughout the pregnancy. I have 4 boxes of 1's, 4 boxes of 2s and I'm moving on to get boxes of 3s (my DD was almost 9 pounds so we used NB for a few days and the hospital provided them)... just know you can always exchange them as long as they are unopened so I'm not too concerned if I need to change sizes/brand once baby gets here. But this way we are trying to eliminate expenses in the first 3 months... once i get a few more boxes of diapers I'll switch to buying wipes.
formula was the biggest shocker expense for us when breastfeeding didn't work. We spent probably $40-50 a week during the first year on formula. So close to $200 a month. DD could only use name brand Enfimil. If baby is in daycare you will have to buy a tub for home and basiclly a tub for daycare each week.
Around 6 months or so you may start introducing foods. You may make your own or buy premade pouches/jars. Depending on what you do that will very much effect your grocery budget.
I also believe at the very beginning your grocery budget immediately changes. If you are one who cooks lavish meals all day, you may find you don't have time for that. I know I bought a bunch of hand hand stuff and stuff for smoothies because throughout the day I didn't have a break to make grilled chicken and a salad for lunch. Meal prepping is key to keep your grocery budget in check. If your spouse does much of the cooking, then you may not see a huge change. We also ordered in way more once DD was born. My DH is military though and is never home, so if I was making dinner, nobody was.
Just allow for so fluctuation with your grocery budget and you will be fine.
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
As for other stuff, I stocked up everytime there's a big sale. I love Target diaper deals stacked with coupons. For example, last year I paid 250 for 10 boxes of diapers and got 100 back in gift cards plus I had coupons that took several more dollars off etc and a Target red card that takes 5% off. As mentioned in the holiday deal thread, there will be a good sale at Target starting Jan 8th.
As for medical, it helps to understand your insurance and what the pediatrician offers etc. We had to do a copay for each well being visit but they also had a nurse line and they were reachable via email for non emergency stuff so if she had a rash or something I could email a pic and get their feedback. No charges there. When we looked for a new pediatrician after moving, those two things were on my must have list. Breast pump was covered by insurance so Id look into that as well.
The changes in cost of groceries was very gradual for us as we did baby led weaning. We only did one meal a day for a couple months then 2 then 3 then added snacks. If you have a sprouts in the area, they usually have cheaper produce but it helped that she started BLW when produce were coming back into season. It'll be interesting to start in the winter with this one.
Sorry if this whole thing seem rambling, I keep putting my phone down then adding more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know there have been some threads about diapers before, but the big thing is to calculate price/diaper when you're shopping. Sometimes the smaller packs are a better deal than the larger ones when you work out the math - especially if there is a promotion on a certain size.
I pumped primarily, but we did have to add powdered formula to DDs bottles to raise the calorie content and we got our pediatrician to help us get her formula covered. It was $3 a can until we met our OOP max, they would send us 10 cans per baby. DS needed another formula for his stomach issues so we did the same thing for him. Thankfully the pediatrician was also a twin mom and went the extra mile to help us get that done.
The breast pump was free through the insurance and I was given a ton of pump parts for free so I just steriled those.
We also made our own baby food (to raise the calories) and we saved a ton of money that way. I've heard BLW is a great cost saver, but wasn't an option due to DDs growth issues.
We also were about 50/50 with new/used clothes. Most sleepers we bought used for about $1 each (some more, some less). Regular clothes I would either buy new on sale or at a resell if they were in "like new" condition.
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
It gets more expensive when they get older and start eating more and wanting things.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
You can definitely find a lot of high quality baby and toddler clothes at the thrift store! (If you have a "nice area" of your town, go try that thrift store!) I got older daughter's whole winter wardrobe this year (except coat) for 20$!
(Some people like consignment sales, I like them ok but don't have time to do really well with consignment.)
With older daughter, we did have to add formula to her breastmilk bottles to add calories. Our pediatrician had a lot of samples, and he gave us enough that I never had to buy any! He said that the formula companies gave him the sample cans trying to get people to buy their formulas, and he would give a lot to people who asked for it. It wouldn't hurt to ask your pediatrician about that especially if you're trying to figure out which formula works well for your little one.
An unexpected expense that I hope none of you have to deal with was the NICU stay. It probably depends on your specific insurance plan, but it makes sense to be prepared for medical expenses. Along with that- therapy. A lot of therapy that a little one may need will not be covered by major insurance providers. If you end up with a little one who needs any kind of therapy, see if they qualify for your state's early intervention program (ages zero to three). Early intervention is great, and they cover all needed therapy costs!
Also I somehow got signed up for formula coupons and samples. I received maybe 4 full size formula cans that I later donated. I think if you sign up for a bru registry it must automatically sign you up. I got so many coupons in the mail and still do. I've heard that store brand formula is essentially the same thing as the big name brands, it nutritionally must meet the same standards. I never looked that up though.
Childcare is where I spent most of my money. Like others have said, you will buy things just because you want them for baby not because you need them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BFP #1 10/8/13, EDD 6/4/14, DS #1 6/9/14
BFP #2 5/1/16, EDD 12/16/16, MMC 5/27/16
BFP #3 8/29/16, EDD 5/5/17, DS #2 5/11/17
BFP #4 2/28/21, EDD 11/9/21
So DH was reading over my shoulder as I was working on this so I explained the prompt and he had a different take. He said babies (and kids!) are so expensive and there are "tons of hidden costs." He said, "itemize everything you can, and then double it." I'm not sure I'd agree that it's that bad, but I wanted to give you another opinion! Those hidden costs do add up.
As for surprising costs, I think that they tend to be health-related. So if your kid is (and you are) healthy you're unlikely to have that many surprising big costs. Remember that the random ear infection might happen when your doctor's office is closed, so you pay $150 (or whatever amount) to go to urgent care instead of your normal "sick visit" copay. And sure enough it has played out that way for us. Our biggest surprise kid-related cost has been mental health expenses for our son (and only in the past year, obviously, at age 5ish--this is not relevant to a baby.) Even with insurance, health expenses can catch you by surprise.
Regarding diaper brands--you will want to get the kind that contains poopsplosions. Huggies leaked (and it's as awful as it sounds). DD fit Pampers best because she's long and skinny, and I guess they're manufactured that way? Huggies is for the chubby babies? And even though the rumor is that Kirkland is just Huggies relabeled, Kirkland did not leak on her. So you just have to try and see. I'm assuming the twins will fit the same as DD, but I'm prepared to try them all if needed.
I did get Pampers for nighttime, the Baby Dry (I think?) version. I waited until there was a WalMart sale, and then stocked up through size 4. And Costco used to have a yearly sale in March, Huggies one week and Kirkland another. Kirkland did NOT go on sale in 2016, and I'm pretty peeved about that. I hope they bring it back this year.
MMC: 09/13 (9 weeks)
DD: Born 8/22/14
Babies #2 & 3: Due dates 6/9/17
And my other love: writing
I have a similar approach as @pshaortao about using sales and coupons when possible (#s above were without coupons) so for clothing we do a combination of using hand me downs, buying 2nd hand clothes, and shopping at Kohl's where they often have amazing sales for cardholders. My Kohl's bill is usually between $50-75 per month which is not bad considering that's where I get all of my clothes, about 50% for both kids, and where I'll occasionally buy household items or birthday presents for their cousins.
Like pp stated, most surprising costs can be medical expenses for illnesses. DS went in once or twice the first year, DD none except for an u/s she had to have but we didn't have to pay because we'd hit our deductible so it really depends on the child's health, how quick you might be to take them to the doctor if they get sick, etc. Health/hygiene supplies such as cold medication, lotion, butt cream, saline solution, teething tablets, etc probably cost between $70-80 for the year. One thing I would suggest would be adding them to your registry after your baby shower (or before too) so that you can buy those items and use your completion coupon to get a discount on them. Same with diapers.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
Married: October 2014
Began TTC: April 2015
BFP #1: 9/18/15. EDD 5/18/16. MC 10/26/15. (9w)
BFP #2: 2/27/16. EDD 11/7/16. MC/D&E 4/20/16 (11w)
BFP #3: 9/22/16. EDD 5/29/17. DS born 4/24/17
BFP #4: 5/20/18. EDD 1/23/19.
FWIW neither of my kids did BLW and one has choking problems and the other has choked once and needed assistance.
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
She did start to choke on a banana the other day though because she took way too big of a bite and I guess it went back into her throat. Scared the shit out of me, but she managed to gag it out before I got to assist and she finished the rest of her banana with my cautious warning to take smaller bites.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
One unexpected expense we had was several months of PT for our son, who developed torticollis/plagiocephaly (flat head). It's not like you can really plan for all eventualities, but it's always helpful to have some extra cash just in case.
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
@pshaortao I'm not sure if it is actually called the Heimlich on infants, but we were taught to support the baby with your arm and hit their back with the bottom of our hand in a forward motion. DD's epiglottis is still not fully mature so we have unfortunately had to do it more times than I would like to admit, I swear our local EMS/Fire station knows us on a first name basis.
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
I tried doing homemade purees alongside giving her pieces of food to try, but it seemed pointless amounts of work, so we stopped that pretty early. It seems so illogical to me to give my child, whom I love, bland tasting junk even I don't want to eat. XD And she just has always gotten her own plate of (appropriately cut) dinner that we're eating. Cuts down on the work. And she usually tried everything at least once if it's in front of her.
MMC: 09/13 (9 weeks)
DD: Born 8/22/14
Babies #2 & 3: Due dates 6/9/17
And my other love: writing
This is 3 years ago with my son, and we had 90/10 coverage for health insurance (meaning 90 percent was covered but we owed 10 percent): we eventually added up all our separate bills, after all was said and done, and the total ultimate costs for the labor/delivery/recovery stay at the hospital (with nothing out of the ordinary in terms of care needed) were about $30,000, so we owed $3000 which we paid I think at the 3-4 month mark, once the bills rolled in. Definitely save more than you think you'll need!
Also call your insurance ahead of time & request a payment breakdown estimate be emailed/sent to you, or chat with a super-helpful representative if you're lucky. This can help you estimate costs proactively.
Lastly: Regarding bills at the hospital: As soon as the babies are born, they're given their own medical record numbers & their bills begin to accrue immediately. We had to alert our insurance co within 24 hours of the birth in order for them to approve those costs. Otherwise, they reserved the right to refuse payments! That was one call we definitely had to make that first day. We tried to establish the baby as a dependant ahead of time but that was a no-go. Whatevs. Doublecheck with your medical insurance to see if they have similar "notification" requirements. Just a heads-up!
I think the take home message is, check every bill! Make sure you've done your part, and then make sure everyone else is doing theirs. It would suck to overpay just because of a mistake or oversight.
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
I find all this info very helpful, ladies. I appreciate it.
Also, I found out that many hospitals in my area offer free Infant CPR classes (as well as other classes) & I will be attending the class!
Please check hospitals in your area as well
23 y/o;
[05/06/17]
First time mommy
90% of the way there
PLEASE take a CPR class!
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17