How to Know How Much Your Baby Will Cost You

Many first-time parents are surprised by the cost of preparing for a new baby. It can be difficult to know ahead of time what must be bought and what parents can do without. To get a handle on the cost involved with preparing for your baby’s arrival, we have a quick guide to the items you don’t want to skip buying, including the range you can expect to spend on them.

Transportation Costs

Necessity #1 – Car Seat

Here’s a quick tip: the hospital actually won’t let you take your baby home without a car seat ready to transport him or her (or them!). This is something that goes unrealised by more new parents than you would think, but it makes perfect sense. All states have laws requiring children under a certain age to be buckled appropriately into car seats or booster seats, and a newborn is no exception. So purchase a car seat well before the baby’s due date, so that you have it on hand if labor and delivery comes earlier than expected. Cost? The most budget-friendly car seats start around £60. Certain brands of luxury car seats can set you back over £1,000. Look for a combo option where a car seat comes with your pram system.

Necessity #2 – Stroller

Sooner or later, you’re going to want to go places with your baby. Trust us when we tell you, you aren’t going to want to go those places lugging a car seat around in your arms. So the second necessity on our list is a stroller, preferably one that is compatible with your car seat. Many stores sell car seat and stroller combos. While this option can be pricier than buying lower-end models separately, if you can afford a combo it is guaranteed to make life easier. With a combo, the car seat can be lifted from the car with the baby still inside and then snapped securely into the stroller. A latch or catch is used to release the car seat when it’s time to go back into the car. Otherwise, the baby has to be removed from the car seat and put into the seat of the stroller, which can cause him or her to wake up and start crying until they fall back asleep (or don’t).

Cost? A stand-alone stroller suitable for a newborn will set parents back around £60, while stroller and car seat combos will generally start at around £150. Keep in mind that a combo will replace the cost of a car seat as well. As for the expensive versions? When it comes to strollers, the sky is the limit. High-end strollers can easily run over £1,000, with some luxury models in the £3-4,000 range. However, good quality stroller combos can easily be had at around the £300 price point.

Feeding Costs

Necessity #3 – High Chair

High chairs come in three versions. The most common form is the freestanding chair, which sits on its own legs. Another common type is the booster seat version, which uses straps to secure onto a dining chair. The final type clamps directly onto the table edge, called hook-on high chairs. What type you choose will be dictated by your budget and preference, as well as whether you want to be able to take the chair with you to restaurants, relatives’ homes, and for traveling. If you plan to travel with it, the versions that clamp onto the table or strap onto any sturdy dining chair will be good options. If you are more concerned with eating at home, a designated freestanding high chair may be easiest, since there is no need to clamp or strap onto anything. Cost? A freestanding high chair can cost as low as £30 and run up to hundreds for luxury brands, while the more mobile varieties tend to stay around £20-70, even for higher-end brands.

Sleeping and Clothing Costs

Necessity #4 – Crib

When your baby is still a newborn, either a crib or bassinet will accommodate them. As they grow, you’ll want to move him or her into a proper crib, especially when they can sit and stand. If you have the funds to invest into a crib that will grow with your child, many are now made specifically to transition into toddler beds and twin beds. These are marketed as convertible beds, and while they cost more to purchase initially, you stand to save more over time since you won’t have to buy future beds. With convertible cribs, one side is removed to transition to a toddler bed, and both long sides are used as headboard and footboard when the child is ready for a twin bed. Cost? When a crib is just a crib, expect to spend anywhere from £100 on up. For convertible options, some brands now offer them as low as £100 but the average price is closer to £400.

Necessity #5 – Wardrobe

The cost of your baby’s initial wardrobe can be significant, especially because babies will move between sizes the fastest when they are first born. If you are expecting a birth during the colder months you’ll need to add in sufficient outerwear, hats, car seat covers, and more. Cost? Baby clothes, swaddle blankets, and burp cloths are great to get second-hand, but if you want to purchase new then plan to spend around £200-300 before baby’s arrival and as much as several hundred every few months to keep up with growing sizes.

Miscellaneous Items

Once you have the five biggest items covered, you’ll need a few other things on hand before the baby arrives. Most importantly, you will want diapers. If you plan to use disposable diapers, expect to spend roughly £50 a month and have a month’s supply on hand. If you use cloth diapers, your cost will be more at the outset but you’ll save more over time. For those parents who formula-feed, you can add on a minimum of £50 a month, but depending upon the formula the costs can vary greatly. Then add in baby wipes, health supplies, baby bottles or pumps, and toys!

Remember, costs can vary greatly. You can save on big-ticket items by buying used or soliciting hand-me-downs from friends and family. The only item from our list that should never be bought used is a car seat. Unfortunately, if a car seat is in an accident, the shock can damage the inside and compromise its ability to protect your baby should you ever be in an accident yourself. Play it safe, and always buy a car seat new.

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