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Hidden (and/or expected) Baby Costs?

So DH and I are discussing babies. We are tentatively planning to start trying anywhere between now and October. I've already calculated what we need to save to cover my portion of bills for the 12 weeks of unpaid leave I'll take. Other than that, what other costs should we be factoring in? What were costs you didn't think of until it came up? Or what costs did you know were coming and you prepared for?
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Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}

Re: Hidden (and/or expected) Baby Costs?

  • I know this won't apply to you for a while, but the biggest kid cost that I just didn't even think about until I was faced with it is summer camp and childcare over school holidays.  I thought to myself that life was going to be sweet when DD was school-aged and I could stop paying astronomical amounts of money to daycare, but then I had to spend my first summer researching summer programs.  They are very expensive!  Even the most basic no frills day camps costed as much as her full-time infant care did.  Also, finding a provider for winter and spring breaks was a PITA.
  • Yay!  We need more WCF babies!

    The biggest expense that sticks out to me was childcare.  Other than that, I guess diapers and formula.  IDK, I was kind of surprised at how little of an adjustment Macy was.  Don't get me wrong, it cost money to have a newborn, but it wasn't money that I dreaded to spend.  And I still don't mind paying for diapers, carseats or whatever else comes up.  We find a way to get it all covered!  

    So I guess what I am trying to say is, while kids are a big adjustment, you will figure it out how to get it covered.  Kind of like when you moved out for the first time......you figured out how to get all the bills paid!  

    But again, I am soooo excited that you are thinking about TTC.  I have no idea why, but whenever anyone tells me they are thinking about kids I get overly excited :) 

    image
    Baby Macy is here!

    12/09 - Macy (daughter) | 4/10 - Began TTC Baby #2 | 12/10 - Chemical Pregnancy | 1/12 - Miscarriage at 14 weeks | DX - PCOS & Hyperthyroidism
  • H and  knew we wanted nice furniture so we made sure to have enough for that. My parents bought the crib, which definitely helped, but we went on the assumption we would have to buy everything ourselves. It's kind of hard to know how much exactly to save because you never know what people are going to buy you. I never expected my coworkers to buy us our $300 travel system. That was awesome of them! We have probably spent about $1500 total on baby stuff, and most of that was the furniture. People gave us everything else. There will still be some stuff after she arrives I'm sure, but that's where we're at now. I would also look into how much out of pocket you will have to pay for the delivery, etc, and think about the possiblity of needing formula if you don't want to/can't BF.
    Anniversary Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFruit Ticker
  • The biggest expenses we ran into were child care, diapers, and formula.  I planned on BF for at least 6 months, but that didn't happen because my boobs didn't work.  Medical is also a cost to factor in.  In addition to her normal check-ups with the dr we have taken her into the ER 2 times and had 3 unplanned visits with the Dr.   
  • imageMrs.Jason.9.15.07:

    IDK, I was kind of surprised at how little of an adjustment Macy was.  Don't get me wrong, it cost money to have a newborn, but it wasn't money that I dreaded to spend.  And I still don't mind paying for diapers, carseats or whatever else comes up.  We find a way to get it all covered!  

    So I guess what I am trying to say is, while kids are a big adjustment, you will figure it out how to get it covered.  Kind of like when you moved out for the first time......you figured out how to get all the bills paid!  

    This is how I feel. We went from two full time paychecks to most of the time just one, and yet it doesn't seem really all that different, even with an extra mouth to feed and expenses like diapers. Our lifestyle changed (we really went out a lot- clubs, bars, restaurants, etc.- before we had DS) and so it just evened out. (Being SAHM or very part time, I didn't have to pay for childcare though, and I never bought any formula or prepared babyfood.)  

    The biggest unexpected expenses were medical related- like when DS's insurances suddenly only began paying a fraction of his shots and I got a $300 bill for them.

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  • - Child care

    - Formula (if not planning to BF or if BFing doesn't work out)

    - Co-pays for doctor's visits

    - Baby classes, e.g. Gymboree, swim classes (if planning on doing these)

    - College plan ( By the time this LO comes, we'd be paying double what we're paying per month now with DD1)

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  • Insurance deductibles. We had 2K deductible for me paid prior to birth, but the day DS was born he then required his own 2K deductible. So I would check with your insurance as to deductibles and be prepared with that in savings. We did that and it made things much more managable.

    Yay for babies!

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  • imageBullsBride2009:

    Insurance deductibles. We had 2K deductible for me paid prior to birth, but the day DS was born he then required his own 2K deductible. So I would check with your insurance as to deductibles and be prepared with that in savings. We did that and it made things much more managable.

    Yay for babies!

     

    This. although with my insurance you only have to meet the max Out of Pocket for 2 family members before everything for everyone is covered.

  • OMG YES on the dr. co-pays, non-covered immunizations, ER visits and surgeries.  DD's ears ended up putting us at the pedi every 2-3 weeks until we had her surgery in November (which wasn't cheap).  Between the copays and medication/shots, we were paying $200+/month just for stupid ear infections.

    Diapers, wipes and formula can be expensive, but there are always deals and generics.

    There are always the convenience items - buying premade meals for daycare, snacks, bottles/cups, fruit cups, fresh produce for meals... It's endless.

    Kids are expensive, but you can never predict every expense.

    imageimage
  • Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.
  • imageragazza19:
    Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.

     

    Good point.  And shoes.  I had to buy all new shoes during pregnancy (hellooooooooooooo swelling!) and all new shoes post-pregnancy. 

    imageimage
  • imagenicoleg1982:

    imageragazza19:
    Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.

     

    Good point.  And shoes.  I had to buy all new shoes during pregnancy (hellooooooooooooo swelling!) and all new shoes post-pregnancy. 

    This brings up another good point. Post partum clothes.  After spending all of that money on maternity clothes, after you have the baby they will be too big and the clothes you wore before you got pregnant will probably still be too small.  If you are unlucky like me, childbirth will make your hips permanently wider and you'll have to replace all of the pants in your wardrobe.  It can all add up.

  • imageChangeOfPace:
    imagenicoleg1982:

    imageragazza19:
    Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.

     

    Good point.  And shoes.  I had to buy all new shoes during pregnancy (hellooooooooooooo swelling!) and all new shoes post-pregnancy. 

    This brings up another good point. Post partum clothes.  After spending all of that money on maternity clothes, after you have the baby they will be too big and the clothes you wore before you got pregnant will probably still be too small.  If you are unlucky like me, childbirth will make your hips permanently wider and you'll have to replace all of the pants in your wardrobe.  It can all add up.

    Oh, this is so not cool! I already have big hips...they don't need to be any bigger. I hope mine stay the same!

    Anniversary Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFruit Ticker
  • imagenicoleg1982:

    imageragazza19:
    Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.

     

    Good point.  And shoes.  I had to buy all new shoes during pregnancy (hellooooooooooooo swelling!) and all new shoes post-pregnancy. 

    OMG, I had the fattest feet in the world.   For real.  I typically wear a 6.5 and when I was pregnant I had to wear a size 10 flip flop because that is the only thing I could find to fit around my fat feet.  My boss even gave me the approval to wear them to work.  Even my fat asss feet wouldn't fit into a pair for crocks.  

    But now, I wear a 7 or a 7.5.  So most of my old shoes no longer fit :(  But then again, neither do my old clothes.   

    image
    Baby Macy is here!

    12/09 - Macy (daughter) | 4/10 - Began TTC Baby #2 | 12/10 - Chemical Pregnancy | 1/12 - Miscarriage at 14 weeks | DX - PCOS & Hyperthyroidism
  • imageragazza19:
    Maternity clothes are another thing to think about.  Hand-me-downs are great and thrift store finds are helpful too.  I'm only 14 weeks and already in maternity wear.  It's amazing how fast your body changes and different clothes are warranted.

    Is it weird that I've already online window shopped for maternity clothes and I'm not even pregnant yet?? Haha!

    Follow me as I train for my 2nd marathon
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    Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
  • imageBullsBride2009:

    Insurance deductibles. We had 2K deductible for me paid prior to birth, but the day DS was born he then required his own 2K deductible. So I would check with your insurance as to deductibles and be prepared with that in savings. We did that and it made things much more managable.

    Yay for babies!

    This is a good point!! I know my deductible is something crazy low like $100/day for 3 days then no more deductible. I (currently) have amazing health insurance. I also know that the baby is automatically covered under my insurance when born but I need to find out the specifics for what the costs would be.

    Follow me as I train for my 2nd marathon
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    Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
  • Thank you everyone for your responses! You've given us a lot to research and think about. We're not sure how soon we'll be starting but the latest is October. I'm sure I'll have a million more questions to ask between now and then! Big Smile
    Follow me as I train for my 2nd marathon
    image
    Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
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