Having a baby is no walk in the park, figuratively and literally! It's no secret that having a baby in this day and age is not cheap and it's pretty easy to get flustered and get carried away with spending more than you need if you do not budget well. There are numerous baby cost calculators you can find on the web to give you an idea of what it will cost you and your family for the first year of your baby's life. The amount of money you spend greatly depends on where you live and how much you earn. According to multiple sources, the average American middle class family will spend an average of $11,000 on their baby's first year on earth.
So, how much does it really cost to have a baby?
1. DIAPERS
Babies change diapers at least 10-12 times in a day. That means you will need a stock up on lots of it. Disposable diapers are estimated to cost about $72 per month which will bring to t total of $864 for a whole year. For those parents who prefer cloth diapers (which is considerably much cheaper), you average cost for that per month is only $19, an equivalent to $247 for a year.
2. BABY FOOD
Food isn't cheap for adults and neither it is for babies. If you are not breastfeeding, baby formula estimated cost an average of $105 per month ($1,260 per year) and another $57 for solid baby foods ($684 for the year.) Deciding to breastfeed you baby will cost you.. you guessed it mamas, $0 dollars. Whoop! Whoop!
3. TOILETRIES
This is a MUST HAVE for every baby. Babies throw up and poop and they will need wipes, baby lotion, shampoo et cetera for their every need. The average cost for toiletries for babies is an estimated $21 a month, which is a total of $252 for the entire year.
4. TOYS
Weather its a teddy bear or a drool teether, it will cost an estimated $35 dollars a month, a total of $420 for the year. That's not so bad but this price tag greatly depends on how big of a shopper you are.
5. CLOTHING
Again, don't go overboard with clothes because its easy to get carried away with cute little pink dresses and shoes. Remember kids grow really fast and they won't wear a particular piece of clothing for too long. Again, this estimated price depends on how big of a shopper you are. The estimated cost for clothes is $60 per month, a total of $720 for the year.
6. DAYCARE
Not every parent have the luxury of staying at home to look after their baby so enrolling him/her in a day care center is the alternative many parents turn to. Because the cost can be a bit steep, many moms make the decision to stay at home with their child to significantly reduce the cost of having to put their baby in a daycare center or have someone else watch their child. The estimated cost for daycare ranges from $600 - 800 per month, bringing this price tag to a whopping $7,200 - $9,600. Whew! That is a whole lot of money!
One-time Expenses
Here is a list of some one-time costs to include in the first year estimated budget for your child.
* Prepping a nursery room - $693
* Gears such as strollers, car seats, etc. - $417
* Activity sets such as bouncers, etc - $90
* Feeding utensils such as bottles, bibs, etc. - $234
* Breastfeeding accessories such as breast pumps - $177
* Bathing tools such as baby bathtubs, towels, etc. - $49
* Miscellaneous items such as baby memory books, baby proofing, etc. - $398
Having a baby is a huge responsibility and cost a lot of money. Don't forget other bills such as mortgage, car payments, utility bills and student loans should be factored in when planning for his/her first year of life. Planning ahead will not only help you spend smarter, it will help you mentally prepare for what's to come.
Are there some things missing from our list? Let us know in the comment section below.
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