re: Tumblr teens ttc

Reading the comments and I see some high numbers! Its expensive having a baby! I didn't see what she thinks it will cost for the first year but looking at the medical bills being sent to me right now, its already at $10,000 and he's only 3 weeks old! (I have insurance, and they are still sending me the bills. I think its cause it takes a little while to get the baby on the insurance and they send out the bills right after they are born)

And we're in the hospital right now cause he keeps throwing up. No idea why! Could be reflux, could be allergic to the formula, could be lactose problems (all reasons that I've heard) I'm not even looking forward to seeing this bill!

Did she even factor in that one can of formula is $16? Unless the baby has issues, like just about every baby in my family and bf's family and now possibly my son. Then they have to have special formula, my cousin's formula costs $40 per can.

I didn't plan my baby, but when I found out I was pregnant I never would have imagined the medical bill costs! Never figured it would cost this much to have the baby, let alone all the stuff you have to buy. I had over a hundred newborn diapers, I'm down to less than 50 and they are going pretty fast!

Quoting Tay L:" Reading the comments and I see some high numbers! Its expensive having a baby! I didn't see what she ... [snip!] ... all the stuff you have to buy. I had over a hundred newborn diapers, I'm down to less than 50 and they are going pretty fast!"

Babies don't have to be that expensive.
When I have kids I will have a home birth (no hospital bills). Unless it is high risk for some reason.
I will not be using sposies. I will use cloth diapers (way cheaper in the long run).
And I will breastfeed.
And use thrift store clothes.

Having babies is actually not nearly as expensive as people try to make it out to be. Sure if you think you need to have all new stuff and use formula and sposies it adds up, but there's a LOT you can do to cut costs.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tay L:</b>" Reading the comments and I see some high numbers! Its expensive having a baby! I didn't see what she ... [snip!] ... all the stuff you have to buy. I had over a hundred newborn diapers, I'm down to less than 50 and they are going pretty fast!"</blockquote>




Have they checked to see if he's got pyloric stenosis? My SO had it when he was a baby and they almost didn't catch it. He got really dehydrated from the vomiting and had to go into surgery immediately. I'm glad I know he had it so my son can be checked when he's born, but symptoms usually show up around 3 weeks. If they haven't looked into it, it might be worth it.

Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:" Babies don't have to be that expensive. When I have kids I will have a home birth (no hospital bills). ... [snip!] ... if you think you need to have all new stuff and use formula and sposies it adds up, but there's a LOT you can do to cut costs."

I agree you can do things to cut costs, I honestly don't think I've spent anywhere near what SOME people spend on the first year. I use disposables, but I stocked up with coupons/sales while pregnant so I've only had to buy one box since she's been born (now almost 9 months old). I also breastfeed, so we don't have to pay for formula. However it doesn't make babies cheap by any means. There are random things that you need to do as they grow that costs a good amount of money, once it's all added. We needed to baby proof our house around 6 months, and it cost us probably close to $300 and we still need to buy a new entertainment stand because she's constantly getting into everything.We have to buy clothes a lot because she's constantly growing (yes we buy new, but it's not a huge deal). Her swing also took a crap, so we invested in a jumperoo which was about $100. Granted she may not need the jumperoo, but it sure saves me because she constantly wants to be held. Now we're looking into buying her a portable high chair because we visit relatives regularly (at least once a week), and she needs a place to sit/eat where she can make a mess. Also we can adjust her straps up one more level and it will be time to purchase a new car seat. Speaking of car seat, this doesn't necessarily HAVE to go with a baby, but it does make it convenient to have a four door car so we are also looking into that for the sake of convenience and safety for DD. We have a two door that's pretty old and I'm sure we'd still be fine with using it if we didn't have DD. Idk, there are probably a lot of other things I am forgetting about and I know that not everything I listed is something you necessarily NEED, but my main points are that the first year is unpredictable, and you may have a "plan" before the child is born on how to save money, but you'll randomly come across things that make everything so much easier in the long run and it adds up.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:</b>" Babies don't have to be that expensive. When I have kids I will have a home birth (no hospital bills). ... [snip!] ... if you think you need to have all new stuff and use formula and sposies it adds up, but there's a LOT you can do to cut costs."</blockquote>




Eh, I do all that and babies are still expensive.
And... They aren't babies for very long.

What melindapple said about having a plan, yeah I had a plan to breastfeed. I gave up cause he would scream, was told to give him a bottle and he ate the whole thing. Turned out he was hungry, so I started pumping and feeding while supplementing with formula. (As agreed by the numerous nurses, lactation consultants that I saw and his dr) and what I was pumping ended up decreasing, to the point where I was getting less than an oz out. (In 3 weeks it went up to 2oz, then down to less than 1oz).

So there are ways to cut costs, but sometimes things happen and u end up having to change plans.

So far I've bought one box of diapers, a box of wipes, bathtime box (shampoo and stuff), vaseline, baby powder, a onsie, and a diaper bag. Everything else I have I got as gifts.   (and I only had like 6 ppl show up to my baby shower out of more than 50 ppl). Plus christmas. So when people give you stuff its nice, its also helpful that there are places that you can go to get educated while earning "hours" that you can turn in for baby items. And wic is so helpful with formula! Cause formula is so expensive! $16 for one can, which adds up really fast.

SO and I are really lucky his boss is who we rent from, and his overtime pays rent AND bills. SO we have 450+ his tips weekly, and sometimes 550+ if his boss is being nice. And we still thrift store everything for LO. I'm only 19, and that is young. But this girl things she can raise a new born on 5k? That's awful thrifty. And means of course she'll be staying with parents. SO and I don't have parents. I bets it's awful effing nice to be like "Hey mom I'm going to try and have a baby, because they're cute, and a good idea at my age right now of course so foot the rent and electricity. And maybe one day I'll somehow get through college, and then maybe I'll get out on my own. In the mean time. Thanks!" This more pissed me off for that reason than her being so young. /end rant

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:</b>" Babies don't have to be that expensive. When I have kids I will have a home birth (no hospital bills). ... [snip!] ... if you think you need to have all new stuff and use formula and sposies it adds up, but there's a LOT you can do to cut costs."</blockquote>

It cost me less than $500 for the first year, seriously lol. I got all the big ticket stuff, clothing and diapers, etc at my baby shower. I breasted for 8 months. I also live in Canada so I didn't get any bills in the mail. The $500 was for things like baby food and formula for a few months, a few clothes and some medications.

Quoting Rd.:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:</b>" Babies don't have to be that expensive. ... [snip!] ... any bills in the mail. The $500 was for things like baby food and formula for a few months, a few clothes and some medications."

Yeah when I see those "cost of a baby" things it makes me laugh because first of all babies don't NEED half the smurf on those lists. Their needs are pretty dang basic the first few years. And secondly my mom had 4 kids and didn't make near as much money as those lists say just ONE kid will cost nevermind 4 and we survived alright.

This may sound super mean and bitchy... But I seriously hope for her family's sake she's infertile...

This is sad. I ended up in a horrible situation and pregnant at 13 years old and had my son at 14. I raised him. I baby sat all the time to save money for his clothes and diapers when he was born. I fished highschool. But lord it was hard. To intentionally do it is crazy. I am not 19 (still a teen) but in a much better situation. I am married. Financially we have all our debtas paid and have a house of our own. My husband works I am in college full time. I am pregnant and guess what it is still hard. But I couldnt imagine getting pregnant and thinking my family was going to foot the bill. My mom disowned me with my son. And would barely baby sit. His dad left me. My husband is very different. I am blessed to have a home, two cars, a hardworking husband, my college paid for with scholarships, and good insurance.And allowance...god...help the girl.