How Much Does It Cost Per Month to Have a Baby

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Starting a family – how much does a infant price?

Starting a family Family finances Budgeting

Having a baby is wonderful, but the costs of starting a family unit can be astronomical.

The boilerplate cost of the beginning 12 months alone is £half dozen,000 – or £500 a month – according to research by the insurer LV, and many parents choose to become way above this effigy. The good news is, you don't accept to.

There are lots of means to continue the costs of raising your child down – and it all starts with planning before your little one fifty-fifty arrives.

This article will comprehend:

• What to buy when expecting a baby
• The essentials and not-essentials you demand earlier the infant arrives
• Everything you need to know well-nigh paternity and maternity leave
• Early days essential equipment
• Childcare costs
• The costs of raising a toddler and beyond

Breastfeeding is free – but in that location are plenty of other things y'all'll need to pay for

What to buy when expecting a baby

You could literally spend thousands of pounds kitting out your baby. Only the advice for new parents is to be saavy shoppers.

While there are some things you lot can't do without, lots of things really aren't necessary and many more yous can get second hand. You tin can use the money you relieve to invest for your child's future instead.

The Essentials

1. A car seat
   New, as yous need to know the automobile seat has never been in an accident. Average cost: £100 – £200
2. Dress
   Don't spend too much on baby clothing; babies grow fast. Plus you will likely become given some beautiful baby outfits every bit presents from generous friends and family unit. But exercise become several onesies, and buy plenty of bed linen and muslins. Average cost: £fifty – £60
3. Nappies
   In the first few weeks, dispensable nappies tend to exist easiest. Purchase in bulk! Average cost: £12 – £24 in the first month
4. Food
   If you lot're breastfeeding, you will need easy-access underwear and clothing (although don't buy too much in instance you can't breastfeed for long), plus perchance a breast-pump and a few bottles. For bottle feeding, y'all'll demand formula, sterilising equipment, and bottles. Average cost: £50 – £100
5. Moses basket
   Your baby will sleep in a Moses basket or crib in your room for the beginning six months. Yous tin buy second hand, just invest in a new mattress. Average cost: £70 for a new basket, £20 for a mattress
6. Baby bath
   A large washing upwards bowl will do, just a baby bathroom on a stand can save your back. Average cost: £25
7. Pram
   A travel system including a car seat, carrycot, and pram can work out cheaper overall. Average cost: £150 – £1,000
8. Irresolute bag
   You lot'll need somewhere to put everything when you lot're out and about, only a normal rucksack or holdall is fine. Average price: £25

The Non-Essentials

1. Play mat
   Important for development, but a blanket with a few toys does the aforementioned job. Average cost: £25
2. Babe bouncer
   Somewhere prophylactic to put your infant while yous go to the loo! Boilerplate price: £20 – £300
3. Changing mat
   Handy and easy to clean, although a folded up towel works only as well. Average cost: £7

Maternity and paternity go out

Having a baby isn't but expensive considering of all the things you have to buy, but the fourth dimension off work means there is less money coming in.

• Statutory maternity leave
  • lasts 52 weeks
  • but 39 weeks take to be paid
  • after the first six weeks, the amount you lot receive may fall from 90% of your earnings to but £151.97 per week for the next 33 weeks
  • some companies offering more, so cheque with your 60 minutes department

Every bit long as your partner has been in their task for nine months, they should qualify for two weeks of paternity leave (male person or female in a same sex couple) on at to the lowest degree £151.97 per week.

Some employers offer total pay during the fortnight so it's a proficient thought to bank check.

Shared parental go out, which allows couples to split 50 weeks of leave before their baby'southward first birthday, is also worth considering.

Cost-cutting tips

• Apply a free baby costs calculator to get an thought of how much you will spend.
• Wait out for special offers. I got a £150 car seat for £50 by choosing a less popular colour (my son definitely does not care!).
• Bring together local parents' groups online. They are a great source of free and cut-price gear.
• Don't buy too many toys – that's what friends and family unit are for.
• You lot're going to be doing lots of washing! So if your washing auto is on its terminal legs, get a new i in the sales.
• Read our commodity on the cost of childcare: what help is available?

What to practise during the early days

First smile, first laugh, start eight-60 minutes sleep (hopefully) – there are many incredible moments in the first six months. Lots more things to buy too!

Equipment that you will need

As in the start few months, you lot volition demand certain items. They don't demand to cost the earth, though.

• Cot – a second-hand one with a new mattress is a corking shout. A cot-bed, which turns into a toddler bed, is even improve.
  • Average cost: From £seventy new
• Baby monitor – you'll probably need a monitor once your baby starts sleeping in his or her own room. Meet if whatsoever local mums have one they don't use anymore hiding in a cupboard.
  • Average cost: £20 – £250
• Nappies – washable nappies are an eco-friendly way to become around the estimated £261 a year you will otherwise spend. In my experience, they're bang-up for daytime usage at home, not and then bully for travelling or overnight.
  • Average cost: £150
• Stair gates – once your babe starts itch, you lot need to secure the stairs to forbid accidents.
  • Average cost: £15 – £fifty
• Loftier chair – vital for mealtimes, but yous can get 1 second-mitt.
  • Average price: £30 – £300 new
• Playpen – not essential, but it is useful. Why not use a travel cot every bit a play-pen – then it can double up as a bed when you become away?
  • Average price: £xxx

Childcare costs

Childcare fees brand upwards a big percentage of the cost of raising a child if you go back to work. Government figures suggest parents typically spend £242 a calendar week for fifty hours of full time care for a kid under two in England and Wales.

You lot may exist able to reduce your bill by up to 20% past applying for taxation-free childcare.

Nosotros take lots more than information on this scheme, and other ways to lower your childcare costs in our How much does childcare price, and is there anything out at that place to aid? Q&A.

Toll-cutting tips

• If you earn under £60,000, employ for child do good as presently equally yous tin after the birth. You lot will probably go a leaflet about it at the hospital or when you register the nascency.
• See if you can infringe items y'all will need short term, such equally stair gates, from friends.
• If you lot cull reusable nappies, check whether your local council offers a voucher that can become towards paying for them, or a free nappy kit.

Toddling and beyond

According to the Child Poverty Action Grouping, raising a child to the historic period of xviii costs a typical couple an middle-watering £151,000. This includes housing and childcare costs. That'due south around £eight,389 a year, or £699 a calendar month.

Merely while food bills will go up over time, other costs should start to autumn.

For aid with budgeting, take a expect at our Guide to creating a family budget and Guide to child benefit.

Food

Most babies start eating proper food at around 6 months. You might be surprised by the divergence this makes to your weekly nutrient shop.

Ready-made pouches are undoubtedly user-friendly when you're on the go, but cooking their meals yourself gives yous more control and should piece of work out cheaper too.

The quicker you lot can get them eating more or less the same equally you, the easier information technology is to save.

Childcare

When your infant reaches the age of three, y'all tin offset claiming 15 – or in some case upwardly to 30 – hours' free childcare a calendar week.

Chief schoolhouse starts the September after the kid turns four, at which point your costs could driblet to around £60 a week if you simply need after-school care. Find out more than about how to proceed downward the costs of childcare.

Price-cutting tips

• New mums are entitled to free prescriptions and dental care in the first 12 months. And so get your teeth checked earlier your baby turns one!
• Keep buying second-mitt clothes – these are really handy for plant nursery, where your kid will probably go covered in food and paint. Keep an middle out for second-hand toys as well.
• Do babysitting swaps with local parents.
• Sell on annihilation you no longer need.
• Your local library can often exist the best place to detect gratis activities, as well as books and toys to borrow.
• Apps such equally Mush tin can be a good manner to track down cost-effective classes and groups.

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Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/money-mentor/article/starting-family-baby-costs/

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