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Starting a family – how much does a baby price?

Starting a family Family finances Budgeting

Having a baby is wonderful, simply the costs of starting a family tin can be astronomical.

The average cost of the first 12 months solitary is £6,000 – or £500 a calendar month – co-ordinate to research by the insurer LV, and many parents choose to go manner above this effigy. The good news is, you don't take to.

There are lots of ways to go along the costs of raising your child downwards – and it all starts with planning before your fiddling one even arrives.

This commodity will encompass:

• What to purchase when expecting a baby
• The essentials and non-essentials you need before the infant arrives
• Everything you need to know about paternity and maternity get out
• Early days essential equipment
• Childcare costs
• The costs of raising a toddler and beyond

Breastfeeding is free – but at that place are plenty of other things yous'll need to pay for

What to purchase when expecting a baby

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

While there are some things you lot can't exercise without, lots of things really aren't necessary and many more you can go 2nd hand. You can apply the coin you save to invest for your child's future instead.

The Essentials

1. A motorcar seat
   New, as you need to know the car seat has never been in an accident. Average cost: £100 – £200
2. Clothes
   Don't spend too much on infant wear; babies abound fast. Plus you lot volition likely get given some cute baby outfits every bit presents from generous friends and family unit. Merely do get several onesies, and buy enough of bed linen and muslins. Average cost: £50 – £threescore
3. Nappies
   In the first few weeks, disposable nappies tend to be easiest. Purchase in bulk! Average price: £12 – £24 in the first calendar month
4. Food
   If you're breastfeeding, y'all will need like shooting fish in a barrel-admission underwear and clothing (although don't purchase too much in example you can't breastfeed for long), plus perhaps a breast-pump and a few bottles. For bottle feeding, you'll need formula, sterilising equipment, and bottles. Average cost: £50 – £100
5. Moses basket
   Your baby volition slumber in a Moses handbasket or crib in your room for the get-go six months. You lot can purchase 2d hand, simply invest in a new mattress. Average cost: £70 for a new handbasket, £20 for a mattress
6. Baby bath
   A large washing up bowl will do, merely a infant bath on a stand tin save your back. Boilerplate cost: £25
7. Pram
   A travel system including a motorcar seat, carrycot, and pram can piece of work out cheaper overall. Average cost: £150 – £1,000
8. Irresolute bag
   Yous'll demand somewhere to put everything when you're out and nigh, simply a normal rucksack or holdall is fine. Average cost: £25

The Non-Essentials

1. Play mat
   Important for development, but a coating with a few toys does the same job. Boilerplate price: £25
2. Baby bouncer
   Somewhere safe to put your babe while y'all get to the loo! Average cost: £twenty – £300
3. Changing mat
   Handy and easy to make clean, although a folded up towel works just likewise. Average cost: £vii

Motherhood and paternity leave

Having a baby isn't just expensive because of all the things you have to buy, but the time off piece of work means in that location is less money coming in.

• Statutory maternity go out
  • lasts 52 weeks
  • simply 39 weeks accept to be paid
  • after the first six weeks, the amount you receive may fall from xc% of your earnings to just £151.97 per calendar week for the adjacent 33 weeks
  • some companies offer more, and then bank check with your HR department

As long as your partner has been in their task for ix months, they should authorize for two weeks of paternity get out (male person or female in a same sex activity couple) on at least £151.97 per week.

Some employers offer full pay during the fortnight so it's a expert thought to check.

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

Cost-cutting tips

• Employ a free babe costs calculator to get an thought of how much yous will spend.
• Look out for special offers. I got a £150 car seat for £l by choosing a less popular color (my son definitely does not intendance!).
• Join local parents' groups online. They are a cracking source of complimentary and cut-price gear.
• Don't buy likewise many toys – that'southward what friends and family are for.
• You're going to be doing lots of washing! So if your washing machine is on its concluding legs, get a new ane in the sales.
• Read our article on the cost of childcare: what help is available?

What to practise during the early on days

First smile, first express mirth, kickoff eight-hr sleep (hopefully) – there are many incredible moments in the beginning half dozen months. Lots more things to buy too!

Equipment that you will need

Equally in the first few months, you will need certain items. They don't need to cost the earth, though.

• Cot – a second-hand i with a new mattress is a great shout. A cot-bed, which turns into a toddler bed, is even better.
  • Boilerplate cost: From £70 new
• Baby monitor – you'll probably need a monitor in one case your baby starts sleeping in his or her own room. Run into if any local mums accept one they don't use anymore hiding in a closet.
  • Average cost: £20 – £250
• Nappies – washable nappies are an eco-friendly way to get around the estimated £261 a year you lot volition otherwise spend. In my experience, they're great for daytime usage at habitation, not so great for travelling or overnight.
  • Average cost: £150
• Stair gates – once your babe starts crawling, yous demand to secure the stairs to foreclose accidents.
  • Boilerplate cost: £15 – £fifty
• High chair – vital for mealtimes, but you lot can get ane second-hand.
  • Boilerplate cost: £xxx – £300 new
• Playpen – not essential, but it is useful. Why not employ a travel cot equally a play-pen – then it tin can double upwards as a bed when you go away?
  • Average cost: £xxx

Childcare costs

Childcare fees brand up a big percentage of the cost of raising a kid if you go dorsum to piece of work. Government figures suggest parents typically spend £242 a calendar week for 50 hours of full fourth dimension care for a child nether two in England and Wales.

Y'all may be able to reduce your bill past upwardly to 20% past applying for taxation-free childcare.

We have lots more than information on this scheme, and other means to lower your childcare costs in our How much does childcare cost, and is at that place anything out there to assistance? Q&A.

Price-cutting tips

• If yous earn under £lx,000, employ for kid benefit every bit presently as y'all can later the birth. You will probably get a leaflet about it at the hospital or when yous register the nascence.
• Meet if you tin infringe items you volition need curt term, such equally stair gates, from friends.
• If yous choose reusable nappies, check whether your local council offers a voucher that can go towards paying for them, or a complimentary nappy kit.

Toddling and beyond

Co-ordinate to the Child Poverty Action group, raising a child to the age of eighteen costs a typical couple an eye-watering £151,000. This includes housing and childcare costs. That'south effectually £8,389 a twelvemonth, or £699 a month.

But while nutrient bills will go up over time, other costs should start to fall.

For help with budgeting, take a wait at our Guide to creating a family unit upkeep and Guide to child do good.

Food

Most babies start eating proper food at around half dozen months. You might be surprised past the difference this makes to your weekly food shop.

Ready-fabricated pouches are undoubtedly convenient when you lot're on the go, merely cooking their meals yourself gives you more control and should work out cheaper too.

The quicker you lot can get them eating more or less the same as you, the easier it is to relieve.

Childcare

When your baby reaches the age of three, yous tin can start challenge fifteen – or in some case upward to 30 – hours' gratuitous childcare a week.

Main school starts the September subsequently the kid turns 4, at which indicate your costs could drop to around £60 a week if you lot only need after-school intendance. Find out more about how to keep down the costs of childcare.

Cost-cutting tips

• New mums are entitled to gratis prescriptions and dental care in the first 12 months. So become your teeth checked before your baby turns one!
• Proceed buying second-hand wearing apparel – these are really handy for nursery, where your child will probably get covered in nutrient and paint. Keep an eye out for second-manus toys too.
• Practice babysitting swaps with local parents.
• Sell on anything you no longer need.
• Your local library can often be the best place to find gratis activities, also as books and toys to infringe.
• Apps such equally Mush can be a proficient mode 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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