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 Add to that the inescapable, yet infinitely necessary, cost of diapers, whether you opt for disposable, cloth or a combination of both. If you’re on a career path and trying to think ahead and save for preschool, private school or even college, there are many variables that need to be considered before your baby nickel and dimes you into a budget crisis. Through the wonder of the Internet, however, you can arm yourself with exact knowledge about what you will be spending on your baby. Better yet, you can get tips and tricks on how and where to save once you realize what things will actually cost. There are several online baby-cost calculators, but one that is particularly helpful and comprehensive can be found at BabyCenter (babycenter.com/baby-cost-calculator). Its First-Year Calculator is divided into Ongoing Costs and One-Time Costs. Of course, full retail value for applicable items is given, so when you are given, for example, a car seat at your shower, you can deduct $100 from the calculator budgets. The calculator is so detailed, yet clearly laid out, you can immediately compare the options of breastfeeding versus formula, and cloth diapers versus disposable, for example. Once you do your research and realize how much convenient some of the options can cost, you can make an informed decision. Imagined reality and actual reality are two different things, and many families enter parenthood with visions of using all safe, environmentally sound products. For instance, when baby is screaming at 3 a.m., and you didn’t have a chance to launder the cloth diapers that day, a handy disposable one might be your ideal option. In addition, if you’re going on a long car trip, carting the old diapers with you may not be the most ideal decision for the other passengers on the trip. Churm Media video producer Karly Barker, anchor of the daily OC METRO Minute on ocmetro.com, is expecting her first baby in April and has already made no romantic illusions about the diaper question. A friend suggested she and her husband consider the newest, most advanced cloth diapers. Karly’s response was an emphatic no. “I’m not going to even pretend like that’s going to happen,” says Barker. “I’ve already said, ‘Sorry, we’re using disposable.’” Debbie Lavdas, a blogger at ocfamily.com and author of this month’s feature story on page 66, chose the cloth option with her family’s latest edition, who was born in November. “We did disposable diapers with our first two, and much to my own surprise, I’m going with cloth diapers with our new little guy,” says Lavdas. According to Lavdas’ research, cloth diapers can save $2,000 over disposable. Here’s a look at the major spending categories and how BabyCenter’s calculator breaks down each option. Because it is so detailed and easy to plug in other options, parents can get a good idea of what is going to cost (or save) them the most money in the long run and short run, so they aren’t hit by major expenses that they are not expecting. Daycare The BabyCenter calculator jumps right into one of the key costs all family’s face: childcare. This section comes with a “Help Me Estimate” button, which gives parents the high and low price ranges for home daycare, a daycare center and a nanny. It averages the high and low, and will post the moderate price (you can still view the high and low figures, however). Certain worksheets will require your zip code or region before calculating. For instance, according to the BabyCenter formula, the average monthly moderate cost of home daycare is $568, with a high of $792 and a low of $344. Daycare centers average $768 a month, and a nanny averages $2,600 per month. (In addition to salary, you may also be providing food, shelter, transportation and insurance.) Diapers The price given in BabyCenter’s calculator is $72 per month for disposable diapers. Of course, that will vary, based on whether or not parents use a name brand versus discount diapers. A cloth diaper service averages $76 per month, and washable cloth diapers are calculated at $19 a month, plus detergent and water. Baby wipes average $20 a month. Food Breastfeeding costs nothing but does have some one-time expenses, such as nursing bras, a manual or electric breast pump, milk storage bags, breast shields and receiving blankets. Formula costs an average of $105 a month. Considering that this is a week’s worth of groceries for some families, it’s amazing to think that a little person can consume almost a full share of the household food budget on formula alone. Once he or she is on solid food, the budget can drop to $57 per month. Parents who learn to prepare baby food on their own – with products such as Baby Brezza, featured in this month’s Smart Mom – can significantly increase their monthly savings. Other categories Additional expenses worth considering include clothing, college savings, medicine, toiletries and toys/books/media. Knowledge is power, so parents who are realistic about where their money is going during their baby’s first year can help them decide what is essential and what piles on additional expenses. ONE-TIME COSTS To kick off your baby shower wish list, here are some primary one-time purchases. There are basic, deluxe and convertible options for many, so some costs can be combined or expanded if you decide to use more than one option. Infant car seat Stroller Backpack or front carrier Diaper bag Swing Bouncer seat Play mat/gym Activity center Doorway jumper Crib Bassinet Bedding Nursery furniture/décor Bottles High chair Plates, bowls, utensils Bibs Cups/sippy cups Bottlebrush |
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