Having a baby is one of the most beautiful things that you will experience in life. However, you should be ready for the sticker shock that comes along with this bundle of joy. No one said raising kids was affordable, but it’s worth every penny. Below I am Breaking Down the Cost of a Baby for you!
If you’re unsure of the costs to bring a bundle of joy into your home, then here are some figures to help. Keep in mind that the price will vary greatly on where you live and your lifestyle, but the average middle-class family spends $1,000 a month on a baby. Where does all that money go? You will be surprised how quickly it adds up.
Breaking Down the Cost of a Baby
Diapers
Diapers are a major expense for parents of newborns. What’s more, monthly diaper purchases are an unavoidable aspect of taking care of a baby. Did you know that the average child uses 2,700 diapers a year, or 52 a week? Even if you buy in bulk or opt for a monthly subscription to save money, this volume of diaper purchases adds up over time. Parents can expect to pay anywhere between $800 to $1200 a year on diapers for a single baby.
Formula
If you’ve never had a baby, then you may be shocked at the price of formula. Sure, nursing is a great option, but not all mothers can nurse. Even if you do choose the more natural method, you still need a pump, baggies, nursing bras, and other supplies. Baby formula comes into the picture in many cases.
Infants start out eating every couple of hours. The average cost of a formula bottle is 11 cents an ounce for a generic and 13 cents an ounce for a name-brand variety of formula. Newborn babe drinks about 15 ounces when they first come home, and then they increase to about 30 ounces each day. How does that break down in terms of budget? Each day, it costs around $4.00 to feed a baby using the formula, which is a cost of $120.00 a month.
Clothes and Shoes
Since the baby is growing quickly, you will need to update their wardrobe constantly. The average baby outfit is around $60 from a typical store. Now, there are cost-effective ways to reduce those expenses, but most people opt for high-quality, cute clothes.
Shoes are just as expensive. A pair of baby tennis shoes to help support them when they are crawling and beginning to walk can be $50 or more. Don’t forget, onesies, t-shirts, bibs, burping cloths, blankets, and the list goes on and on. It’s easy to see how you could easily spend $200-$300 on clothes and baby shoes for the first couple of years.
Basic Supplies
Diapers and formulas are the major expenses, but they are not the only costs you will incur. You need to consider things like wet wipes, diaper creams, bath soap, specialized laundry detergent, and other needs. Babies require a lot of gadgets and gizmos to take care of them. You will spend a few hundred dollars on wipes and creams alone. Don’t forget to have an incidental category in your budget for these little extras.
Dollars and Cents
Having a baby is costly but SO worth it. Don’t forget you need car seats, strollers, nursery furniture, savings for college education, medical bills, and daycare costs. It’s important to make an informed decision before growing your family. The monthly diaper costs alone are enough to make you cringe. Thankfully, the investment in a child is the most rewarding way to spend your money.
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