Advice for first baby budget

[Hippolyta20]

My husband and I are trying for our first baby. We are both self employed and want to start saving some money each month to cover the initial baby costs. Does anyone have any advice on what kind of figure we should be aiming at? This is to cover all the "one-offs" (like cot, buggy, car seat, baby clothes, maternity wear, bottles, stair gates etc). Also, as we are in Wales, we have to pay for our own 12 and 36 week scans. Friends estimating about £6k. Does this sound realistic?

How long is a piece of string? Are you going to spend £100 on a pram or £600. The price differences can be huge depending on whether you are frugal, only buy what you need types or like the best of everything.
Have a look at a few websites and cost out what you think you will spent, that will give you some idea.
I'm in Wales - I don't understand what you say about paying for 12 / 36 week scans? I had 12 / 20 week scans with both my children.

Thank you. I will try and make a detailed list.
I guess something I am struggling with is that because this is new to me, I am not sure of what we do need. I know about all of the big things like a cot but I am sure there are loads of things I haven't even thought of. It would be good to try and put it into perspective from those with more knowledge/experience.
Not sure about the scans then. Maybe it is regional? My Doctor has said that if we want the 12 week anomolie scan we have to pay and go private. Would only otherwise get checked at 16 weeks which is after you would normally have shared the news.

I had far too much when my baby arrived. :) The things I used most in the first few months were

• Lots of sleepsuits, button-down vests and baby-gros. If it's a winter baby you'd need hats, coats and so on. Most people go overboard on cute outfits and they can't wear them all.
• Nappy changing stuff. Nappies, wipes, nappy-sacks, changing mat and a nice big bag to put it all in. Didn't use talc, lotions and nappy cream much
• Bottles and steriliser. But if you bf you don't need those
• LOTs of muslin squares for drool, puke and general shoulder protection
• Savlon seemed to fix everything from cradle-cap to nappy rash :)
• Small nail scissors. Their nails grow at an alarming rate.
• "Big" stuff. They don't go into a cot for a few months but they need somewhere to sleep like a basket or carry-cot. Buggy (foot-muff is a good idea), bouncy chair, car-seat and I found a changing table at a comfortable height was far better on my back than crouching on floors or over beds. As we did quite a bit of travelling a collapsible travel-cot came in very handy and doubled up as a play-pen.
• Didn't get a sling, medical thermometer, baby monitor or cot monitor. IMHO Thermometers and monitors just make you a twitchy wreck.
• Did get a baby bath and thought it was useless. Also bought a potty. Also useless. :)

The figure really will depend on how much you want to spend. With our first we were on quite a tight budget, and spent hours comparing things left right and centre on the internet to get good value cot, mattress, bedding, pram and car seat. We bought fairly cheap baby gros etc, and used reusable nappies. Five years on, and two more babies later, the cot is still going strong, the cheap baby gros didn't last so we had to buy better quality, the nappies are still going strong (2 year old and 1 year old both wearing). Are you planning to have more or is it too soon to say? You might want to consider whether you need the all-singing all-dancing pram, and whether one with an option of adjusting to carry a second might be better if you are? Are you planning to breastfeed? Having a baby doesn't need to be an expensive business. Lots of things can be bought from E-bay or NCT sales and the like. We borrowed things (e.g. Bumbo) to see whether they worked for us or not, then bought second hand. Obviously you can't do that with everything - you need a new mattress, and might prefer new car seat etc. But what about clothes? Could you buy bundles of clothes on E-bay, or get hand-me-downs from friends? We were given a nearly new travel cot which has been used so much - really great. Our highchair was a mid-range (£50 job) but has lasted three children and constant day-in-day-out use. Bought a handisitt second hand for going out and about and that has also served well. Some things e.g. bath etc, we bought the cheapest we could find - what can go wrong with a moulded plastic bath. We only used it for a few weeks each time as I tend to have big babies, but still wouldn't have been without one. No need for matching baby box, top and tail bowl etc. I didn't buy into the towels with cute triangle at the top for babies head - just bought each new baby a different coloured set of towels from the Debenhams sale which have obviously lasted and lasted - we're all colour coded which makes life easy! Don't buy things you're not sure whether you'll use or not e.g. breast pump, steriliser etc (if you are planning to breastfeed) you can always buy later. We bought a sling online (second hand) once we'd figured out what we needed. If you do make mistakes you can always sell things on - it is a very individual business and what works for one person won't necessarily work for you! With our third child we bought virtually nothing apart from breastpads for me, and a new set of flannels. She took up virtually no room in our bedroom, and didn't have a wardrobe, chest of drawers etc. She had an Ikea plastic box with lid to store her toys, and that was it! It is an exciting time, and no doubt you'll want to make some indulgent purposes, but if your budget is tight, don't be taken in by all the magazines telling you that you 'need' x, y and z. A baby needs very little in reality! Good luck!

OP which region in Wales do you live? Not being nosy, its just that I'm not sure about North Wales, but mid and south definitely don't have to. I live in a city with only 1 main hospital and didn't pay for my 12 week scan, but I'm not getting a 36 week because of cost/demand which is fine by me.

Can't help with the rest of your question, but do not underestimate family. We were not financially prepared for this baby and have got all the essentials now for about £1000. However, am very fortunate and have been handed down clothes, Moses basket, bouncer, and my DPs have bought pram and bath, whilst DPs mum is giving us a bigger car, which no doubt we need and would have been our biggest expense.

Start stocking up on nappies, wipes etc when the baby events come on in the supermarkets, they have just started and have filled a chest of drawers with nappies, wipes, toiletries, cotton wool etc that were half price!

Congratulations and good luck

Keep it simple with regards to clothes and toys, because that's exactly what people will buy you as presents when baby is there. 2-3 outfits to start it off, plus a rattler/cuddly toy should do. You can always go back for more if friends and family turn out to be sensible and not inundate you with all that stuff within a week.

You're better off saving your money for the 6-9 month stage when they've grown out of the newborn stuff, but it's too early for the birthday things to come in.

I'm saying this as someone who can't wait to go out shopping for clothes and toys for newborn, but you didn't ask for advice we were actually following ourselves.

Thank you. It is so hard to know the first time around.
I like the idea of doubling the travel cot as a play pen. I agree on the cute out fits too. Might have to get one but they grow so fast it would be a waste to buy more. Hadn't considered the nails!

Hippolyta i had a list of everything i ever bought for my first baby if you want it. I was laid up at home so shopped online. It covered everything. I know its anal but if you want it i'll send it to you. It went from pram right down to nail clippers. Obviously its not a list of must haves but all i may want to get. Now im on my second so half of it i discounted.

It doesnt have the costs on it anymore but i only spent around 1500.00 and 500 of that was my bugaboo pram(i got a deal at the national baby show). I also saved money by buying argos aviemore furniture and a mother care cot rather than 'nursery furniture'.

Look out for 'Baby events' at the supermarkets. Asda and Tesco often do these a couple of times a year and you can get lots of essentials very reasonably!

Asda Baby Event

It's a really good idea to stock up when the offers are on at the supermarket. Just scared of "tempting fate" a bit in case things don't go to plan. Might wait a little while.
Thank you Doctor's wife. I have started to pull together an excel spreadsheet from everyones suggestions too! I have looked at Mothercare and sale websites. We are planning two at the momenet so I guess I will get things that will last a little while but agree no need for designer (can't imagine a baby would possibly tell the difference!)

6000 K sounds way to much for baby stuff -
as above have you consider NCT nearly new sales - great for clothes and quite a lot of equipment and ebay can be a great source
what will cost you as self employed is lack of earning power
you don't need a 36 week scan in my view - and 12 week scan isn't actaully needed although -how old are you - if over 35 as I would look at nuchal fold at about the same time

I'm 34 weeks, and have acquired quite a lot of stuff 2nd hand for very little, our biggest expense has been car seat and base (£200) and a pram/pushchair (£300 but would have been £700 new), but other than that I haven't spent more than £100 on clothes, nappies etc. We're getting a 2nd hand cot from a relation - I'll buy a new mattress for it. I picked up a brand new moses basket and stand at a NCT sale for £10, borrowing a baby bath from friends. You can spend as much or as little as you want really.

I have a 3 month old baby and we have spent surprisingly little on baby gear. I suppose it depends on whether or not you want everything new or don't mind secondhand?

The only things you NEED to buy brand new are a car seat and a mattress for the cot / moses basket and that is for safety reasons. Everything else can be picked up easily secondhand / from family or friends etc.

Babies grow so quickly that often secondhand items have barely been used :) We have been given a ridiculous amount of clothes and I don't think we have actually bought anything ourselves (clotheswise) except for a few vests (tbh, we didn't need them as we were given so many but I wanted to buy something after my scan!). Our pram cost £125 and had only been used twice before. It would have cost over £400 new. Our cot was £300 but is a cot bed and was a present from my parents.

We did buy a baby bath (£3 from Morrisons) but up until now have just washed baby in a washing up bowl as it is easier than carrying the bath! We were given a moses basket and bought a new mattress for it (£10) but I know lots of people don't bother with moses baskets so it is up to you :)

Travel cot (we travel a lot as our family live 70 miles away) was £40, reduced from £80 and can also double up as a playpen when baby is older (not sure if we will do that with it, but it says on the packaging that you can do that with it).

Muslins - we use a lot of these. You can get them very cheaply at Tesco / Asda / John Lewis although we were given most of ours.

Baby gyms - we were given 3 different types by members of the family but you can pick them up very cheaply in the classifieds of your local newspaper (in fact that goes for any baby equipment!)

Clothes - we were given loads of little outfits but most of the time ds is in babygros (up until now at least) as they are comfier for him and easy to change when he is sick / wees all over himself etc. He has some outfits he has never worn and are now too small for him

Nappies - we like Aldi and Asda nappies. We didn't get on with Huggies at all and although Pampers were good, they were on a par with the Asda ones which are half the price...

Sorry for rambling on! It's a very exciting time getting ready for a new baby - enjoy it :)

It completely depends what you want and how you live!

We got a travel system - bug and bulky. But we ended up with a huge, heavy baby, so it worked out well. We used the carry cot from the pram with an extra mattress rather than a moses basket. Some people hate them but it works for us and meant baby is completely flat in the pram- which was important to me and lots of the light weight prams don't. We got it off the internet in a discontinued colour - saving about £500! I would make sure you see a cot and pram in a shop and then buy it cheaper online.

Car seats - I joined Which for a free trial to read about their safety tests, as this was the area we really went for quality without worrying about cost.

Travel cot - they are often reduced but you need an extra mattress as the ones they usually come with are very very thin. Mattress is usually as much as the travel cot or more!

NCT nearly new sales are either really good or a rugby scrum and complete waste of time depending on where you live I think. And you need to be a member and get there very very early (where I am anyway).

Oh, and incase you hadn't thought about it...
You need a car that you can easily get a car seat in and out of, and that can fit a pram in. (New car for us!)
You need a tumble dryer. (I am making twice weekly trips to the laundrette now its winter wish I had space for a tumble dryer.)
You need space! Start ebaying your junk now as babies come with so much stuff (if you are saving everything for a second, if not you could just sell on)

Thanks for all the advice.

It sounds like everyone agrees on the things that need to be new.

Unfortunately for me I am one of the first of my friends to start a family so I don't think I can rely on things being passed on (guess friends will do better from me!)

Good advice to start trying to get rid of the junk. Might even make some money to put towards the baby gear.

Also sounds like not going to need as much as we thought which is good news as was going to be a bit of a stretch.

Certainly less than a grand here. Maybe a few hundred!

I had NCT friends spend a fortune though, I think it is very easy to buy into the "new mum" hype without realising it. Advertisers know you want to do the "best" for your baby and so try to convince you you need things you really really dont!

Good luck :)

£6k- that's a year of childcare - I honestly think I'd struggle to get through that on baby stuff. They don't cost much I'd you are happy with 2nd hand. My big regret is getting a 'pram' - after 3/4 months I was onto a maclaren. I wish I'd just bought a maclaren techno xt (does from birth) and I would have saved about £309. Ds4 went straight into it from birth. There are loads of nct fairs around selling good quality stuff for not much. New mattress and car seat a must but stuff like Moses baskets a waste of money.

This is what I bought for my DC;

cotbed with mattress - £200
buggy - £40 (from eBay)
car seat - about £100
pack of vests - £5
2x pack of babygrows - £20
sleeping bags x2 - £40
fitted sheets - £10
coat for a winter baby - £10
blanket for buggy etc - £10
pack of nappies - £5 each
wet wipes - £1 per pack
maternity wear - £50-£100 and that would be a lot for me...
nursing bras x3 - £25 each
changing mat - £10

I that is sort of what you need for the first few months.... I BF mine so no need for bottles or milk. It was free!

This is an excellent place to buy items - good prices and service.

Cotbed - loaned from friend, bought new sprung mattress - £85
Pushchair - with carrycot and carseat total £230 (brought this down by buying the 'parts' from whereever they were cheapest, would recommend Tesco Direct, cheap as chips)
Moses Basket and Stand - gift from SIL, can get for around £60 total
COuple of sheets and blankets for both beds - £50 (but have a blanket obsession)
Sleepsuits and Vests in Newborn and 0-3 - 6 of each, cost around £25
Tomy Tippee bottles are great, selling in Morrisons at the moment 6x bottles for £10
Steriliser - microwave one, £25
Stairgates not needed until crawling 4
Sling - £25
Maternity Clothes - loaned most from a friend, but spent around £80 in H&M over the course of the PG for additional items more to my taste
Baby monitor - gift from Aunt, but not needed until they move into their own room
Nappies and wipes - everytime I see Johnsons or Huggies wipes for £1 I buy a pack...I never run out and never pay over the odds. Bought three packs of newborn size nappies, Huggies, but moved onto Boots Own ones once I knew they wouldnt leak - £4.50 for a pack of 44
Bought a bath 'ramp' for want of a better word, rather than a mahoosive baby bath - £10
Bouncer chair (my 5 week old is loving hers!) Basic one from Mothercare - £12

You can get a travel cot like this
which is a Travel Cot/ Playpen and Moses Basket all in?

Oh, and along with the bouncer chair, Id also recommend a play mat / jazzy blanket type thing for baby to lie on during the day. Mine loves hers.

Only thing you need to buy is a carseats tbh and nappies/wipes if disposable.

Everything else you can acquire and seek as you find the need after the baby is born.

£6k, are you insane?

Agree £6K seems very high (and we weren't deliberately trying to be frugal) but actually the money would be very helpful if you plan on having longer on mat leave than you will get full pay for, IYSWIM? And if you've got any 'extra' cash you could always stick it in a baby bond?

Brilliant name womb I have name envy.

Ikea plastic high chair is the best - about £15. dSIL gave me her expensive m&p one - ds1 slid down it all the time and it took up half the kitchen. Got him ikea one and still going strong for ds3

You'll need breastpads - rimmed tippee ones good and often on special at Tesco

Just discovered a bit late (as on ds4 and emigrating in 6 weeks) how good lidl nappies are too.

A bumbo is also useful but you can get one on gumtree for a tenner