My partner and I are planning a baby, but having never grown up around children, I do not have a first clue of all costs involved.
Can anyone reccomend a webpage that will list all startup costs including buggies - nursing bras - paint for walls. i would really like to see what a good sum to save up would be before we start trying. I would like to do a sort of baby budget i guess!
Be warned...it's bloody expensive! We tried to stick to a budget and buy only what we needed, still have spent LOADS of money.
Good places to look are babiesrus.co.uk (part of Toys-r-us shop), babystoredirect.com, mothercare, mammas and pappas, kiddicare.com and links through this website.
Good luck....its mind boggling at first!
I'm due any day and we have been buying things throughout the pregnancy (since about week 12) to spread the cost. It has worked really well like that. We didnt save and have done up the whole house (inside and out!) and are now completely ready for little one to arrive. We have looked at getting the best we can afford on a month to month basis with safety and longevity being key. For example, a moses basket for the first few months then a nice cot bed (lasts until they're about 5 yrs old instead of a cot and then a bed), a travel system (attatchable car seat/buggy/pushchair and base that see's them through from birth to the point they dont need a set of wheels) etc...
(PS If you want to save for everything you'll need, you're looking in the range of at least £1000-2000. You can do it all on budget, but safety comes first. And, when you get into the pregnancy, you only want the best and cutest!)
I agree with Charlotte...babiesrus.co.uk & kiddicare.com are great!! You'll find everything you need (and more!!) at reasonable prices.
Buying a cot bed will save long term cost (ie having to buy a cot & then a bed later on) and travel systems provide everything you need for getting about, rather than purchasing each item individually.
I have a 3 year old boy and am looking to try for baby 2 after xmas....as I've been through this all once, I must say there is a lot of stuff out there that is a complete waste of time and money!! Spend what you have where it matters....decent mattress, sturdy/good quality travel system, baby moniter etc...
I spent soooo much 1st time....moses basket, nappy wrapper, 3 in 1 bath, changer & storage unit...the list goes on! I hardly used any of it. It all looks good in theory but when baby comes its a whole different ball game....bathing baby was easier with me in my bath, changing happened not on the changer but wherever there was space as & when, moses basket was rubbish so he went straight in his cot & nappies never went in the wrapper but in any available bin!!!
Buying quality essentials will always see you through....and should keep your spending down a little.
I found out the expenses by making a list of everything i would need, and putting the average price next to it (cos you an get loadsa cheaper) then add it up! its just gives you a rough guide onto how much your wanting to spend etc xxxx
Obviously im unaware of your personal family cirucumstances, but i was really lucky in the fact that all of mine wanted to chip in!!! My mum and dad bought the travel system, and my OH's parents put in some money towrds the nursery furniture. My nan also bought the moses basket and bedding!! We've just kind of picked up bits and peices along the way really...Asda and Tesco tend to have baby weeks every now and again, i managed to pick up my steriliser and breast pump for £10 each (tommee Tippee). Also, check out the baby show...i went this yr and although i already had most of it, they had some good bargains at the end of the day!! Its really difficult to put a price on the cost of a baby...at then end of the day you can get basic versions, and not splash out, but its so difficult to resit temptation...and as charlotte said its really important to consider the safety of the products!!
Oh, and in the back of the Mothercare Catolog, theres a checklist for all newborn essentials which is quite useful.
hi, i've had loads of bargains from mothercare, sainsburys, adams,boots, charity shops and from friends, etc who have stuff they no longer use. We only buy stuff thats on offer at the time and have saved a fortune.
I got a crib for my wee girl and she used it until she was seven months which is really good and I'm keeping it in her nursery for when baby no2 comes along. She is now in her cotbed.
There are a lot of things that you don't really need. I use the pushchair and car seat all the time and the monitor and baby bath have all been handy.
Things like the bumpers for the cots and the walking devices are all a waste of money, I think anyway. Emma is learning to walk fine without any of these things.
Another tip is try to go for seperate tops and bottoms as I found I hardly got any wear out of the all in one suits as babies grow so quick. suzx
Only buy 6 sleepsuits & 6 'vests' in newborn size - ask family to wait until baby's born to buy clothes, as otherwise you could end up with a 5lb baby & only 7lb babyclothes & baby will be cold & you'll be running around trying to find clothes to fit.
Know shops are full of loads of baby stuff that isnt really necessary, but have to disagree with you about the cot bumpers. I think they are an essential if your cot sides arnt solid panels. Once the baby is more mobile they will easily get arms and legs through gaps in the slats. Sure that they would be fine doing this most of the time but there is the chance they could get twisted up or hurt, so my cot bumper has been attached since day 1.
The thing I regretted buying was a Tommee Tippee nappy bin and the cassettes of wrap. Realised after we'd bought it that the wrap cost £6 a packet. We now use supermarket brand nappy sacks instead of the wrap and save a few quid a month.
