Expenditure before birth & in first year

[JackJack84]

Hi all I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant & just trying to plan financially for baby costs before birth & in their first year. Would love to know what you spent money on?

We are so lucky that we have so far been given a pram with travel system, cot bed, Moses basket, next to me crib, clothing, blankets, nursing chair, baby bath & bouncer. I still have little things I need to buy like nappies, pads for me, thermometers etc.

I'm hoping to BF so hopefully won't need to buy formula. I'm guessing the biggest expenditure will be childcare, I'm getting 6 months full pay from work then will return full time 3 days a week.

What did you find you spent the most on & are there any costs that you weren't expecting?

TIA x

Some baby classes (eg swimming) are surprisingly expensive, but entirely optional of course.

Once they grow up a bit they'll want toys and books. I've had lots of things free or cheap from gumtree (eg a jumperoo, which I knew we'd only use for a couple of months), but I've shelled out ££ on thing like a gorgeous tea set for my one year old... again, you don't need to do that of course but it's something to think about.

But other than that you sound like you have all the essentials covered! Do remember that as they get bigger and less of a novelty you'll get fewer clothing gifts!

The most expensive things are the things you’ve already been given, car seat, pram, cot were our biggest purchases.
Other costs for me were maternity clothes - I didn’t need to buy loads as I didn’t show until quite late but they can be expensive. Also maternity and nursing bras. I went from an A cup to an E during pregnancy, I was constantly buying bras!
Obviously the biggest cost for us now by far is childcare.

As others have said you’ve listed the bigger pricier items already.

My biggest cost so far has been a new car as this is baby 4 so have had to get a 7 seater lol. But other than that, will be childcare as I will be returning to work 5 days a week (term time only), and my childcare is £45 a day.

Nappies I wouldn’t stock up on loads, just in case you buy a certain brand that ends up leaking for your baby, or irritates their skin. Buy a couple of packs, see how you and baby find them and go from there.

With my eldest pampers were fab, but my second baby came out in a nasty rash so switched to huggies. My third did best in the mamia ones from Aldi as pampers leaked for her, so you never know.

I’d also say for a thermometer it’s worth shelling out a bit more for a decent in ear one. I have a braun one and it’s fab.

Thank you all for the great ideas! 😊
@Zarene I'm definitely happy with getting things second hand. We had planned to get everything from gumtree etc but the grandparents wanted new so I let them crack on haha

For us it was the costs related to having a difficult birth and then a preemie. So a bit different from a “normal” experience.

@Wanttocry the only things I've bought so far are maternity clothes for me! And bras omg, pre pregnancy I was 36E, quickly went up to 38F. Ordered some 38G to 'grow into'. When they arrived we were laughing at the size of them & my partner was wearing them like a hat! Tried them on & they fit perfectly 😂

Nappies...they can through a lot in the early days.
Toddler car seat... rear facing is recommended to four these days, and the seats are least £100, with many £200+ for isofix, swivel functions etc.

@Moominmiss thanks for the tips about nappies, I'll not go mad bulk buying! Really hoping I can get away with Aldi nappies as I have an Aldi really close so that would be handy. But I'll see how they get on.

I'm happily surprised about your childcare costs, I was expecting at least £100 a day. Is yours a nursery or child minder?

@Moominmiss

I’d also say for a thermometer it’s worth shelling out a bit more for a decent in ear one. I have a braun one and it’s fab.

Yes, I second this. The braun ear thermometers are the ones they use at our local hospital. They're more accurate than the forehead ones and they're much easier to use on a wriggling, screaming baby than any other kind.

@FelicityPike

For us it was the costs related to having a difficult birth and then a preemie. So a bit different from a “normal” experience.

Sorry to hear this, what were the costs?

@Moominmiss @JeansShirtJeansJacket
I've found these three thermometers, is there one which is best?

It all evens out. Because when you have a newborn, you're not going out as much or wasting five quid here and there on tat etc.

Childcare costs are obviously a huge one. That never ends TBH. Word of advice is if you're going back after six months, start looking at childcare options soon after the birth. Because places fill up fast. I went back after six months with DC 1 and left it until he was 5 months old and had an absolute nightmare finding something.

I was expecting at least £100 a day.

I’m in the SE and we pay £56 a day for a nursery, which includes food. £100 a day would be quite a lot I think!

Definitely sign up to the tax free childcare scheme as well. You get £500 every three months, provided you pay at least £2500 total for three months of childcare. So you pay in £2,000 and the government tops up the extra £500. (If your childcare costs are less than that the government just tops up 25% of what you put in, so if you childcare is, say, £1500 for three months, you’d put in £1200 and get £300 top up).

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Nappies...they can through a lot in the early days. Toddler car seat... rear facing is recommended to four these days, and the seats are least £100, with many £200+ for isofix, swivel functions etc.

Thank you for your reply. The pram I've ordered comes with a car seat but I need to check what age it goes to. I was offered an isofix car seat but unfortunately it's not compatible with my car which is a shame

@Wanttocry

I was expecting at least £100 a day.

I’m in the SE and we pay £56 a day for a nursery, which includes food. £100 a day would be quite a lot I think!

Definitely sign up to the tax free childcare scheme as well. You get £500 every three months, provided you pay at least £2500 total for three months of childcare. So you pay in £2,000 and the government tops up the extra £500. (If your childcare costs are less than that the government just tops up 25% of what you put in, so if you childcare is, say, £1500 for three months, you’d put in £1200 and get £300 top up).

Ah that's fantastic to hear thank you! I'm in the NE so I'd imagine it could be even cheaper here. I might only need paid childcare for 2 days a week as both sets of grandparents are keen to babysit.

Is the tax free childcare scheme linked to your income at all? I know I'm not eligible for anything else due to my salary.

@JackJack84 travel & food mainly.
Luckily we live 30 minutes from the hospital and I do drive but had to rely on my dad (DH doesn’t drive) for 3 weeks (I had a section).
Because we were up there all day every day we had to eat in the canteen. 3 meals and snacks a day add up. There was a government scheme to get a grant but we didn’t qualify.
Also during my pregnancy I was up and down to the hospital almost daily.
(DD is great though, never looked back)

@JackJack84 I think you’re ineligible if you or your partner earn over £100k a year.

@Pikachusbutt there is a great nursery right behind my house so I was thinking of contacting them before I give birth just in case there is a list but wasn't sure if this is normally the done thing!

@FelicityPike I can imagine that was draining financially & emotionally for you all. My hospital is also 30mins away, as soon as I found out I was pg I told my partner he had to pass his driving test ASAP 😁 Glad everything worked out for you!

[quote Wanttocry]@JackJack84 I think you’re ineligible if you or your partner earn over £100k a year.[/quote]
Ah good, I definitely don't earn that much so it should be fine 😊 I'll look into it thank you

[quote JackJack84]**@Moominmiss* @JeansShirtJeansJacket*
I've found these three thermometers, is there one which is best?[/quote]
I've got the top one! I think the bottom one is just the top one in black, and for some reason that means they charge more. Maybe its like cars

Re breastfeeding, I thought it was the free option but I've actually had to spend quite a bit on nursing bras, some tops that work well with nursing, nipple cream, and breast pads. So bear that in mind.

@JackJack84 I also have the top thermometer in the picture!

I’m in the south west and my childcare is a child minder so cheaper than a nursery. My eldest 3 all went to a local nursery and the cost was £60 a day. So child minded here is significantly cheaper. I never managed to get my name on the list for this childminder quick enough, hence why mine all ended up in nursery instead. But I was quick off the mark this time and managed to secure a place!

My daughter is 1 now and I’ve been surprised by the amount of things we’ve had to buy that we hadn’t considered.

Weaning involves making all these meals that were thrown on the floor, trying loads of different cups to find one she’d drink from.

We use an outdoor nursery that requires masses of clothes, swimming costumes, £60 waterproofs, wet bags, a seemingly never ending supply of socks.

On top of part time nursery baby classes, swimming and play groups are £100+ a month. None of these things are strictly necessary but we hadn’t ever considered the cost.