Baby Daze

It helps to get the full picture and become a savvy shopper!

THE COST OF A BABY …

Of course, everything is relative. The price of everything you need for a baby varies a lot as there are lots of different sizes, brands, types and of course, your personal choices. Be sure to do your research before purchasing and sign up for all of your coupons. The following items are described as approximations for Baby’s first year. In the first year, with ALL of the things that come into your world, though, you are looking at approximately a $10,000 price tag. Here’s a list of the top items most parents spring for:

3,500 DIAPERS
In a baby s first year, new parents will have brought home an average of 2,788 diapers for a total cost of $557.60, according to kidsgrowth.com.

20 – 80 ONESIES
You’ll need 5 to 20 of those little bodysuits by the time your baby is 1. A five-pack of Gerber Infant Onesies goes for $8.99. Multiply that by 20 and you’re looking at approximately $180 or so in the first year.

1 OR 2 BABY CARRIERS
Some slings will grow with your baby from birth to 12 months. Get one for you and one for Dad depending on the size differential between you and your partner. There’s a wide range in costs for these, but the Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling has staying power and retails for approximately $60 – If you get two, that’s obviously $120.

$1,000 – $2,300 IN FORMULA
Not every mom is going to breastfeed … So, to determine how much your baby needs per day, multiply his weight in pounds by 2; then multiply his weight by 2.5. Newborns will only take up to two ounces at each feeding … as they grow the amount increases. By the end of the first year, it’s possible that after purchasing two $25 cans a week you will be up to $2,300.

ONE OR TWO TUBS VASELINE NURSERY JELLY
There are all kinds of choices when it comes to protecting Baby’s bottom from rash. Petroleum jelly seems to be the easiest way to protect. Apply a bit on the bottom after each change. One large tub costs $3.71.

TWO DIAPER BAGS
How else will you carry around all this stuff? Pick out two — a pretty, stylish tote for you and one that won’t bother him. A basic model will cost you about $40.

10,000 WIPES
For each diaper change, plan on using two wipes for the baby and one for you, adding up to $435 annually.

30 BIBS
Babies salivate, spit up and drool, so bibs are essential to protecting cute outfits. Two to three dozen should keep you going for a couple of weeks. A basic bib should cost about $3 - $5.

160 lbs BABY FOOD
Starting at 6 months old, your baby will be chowing down on a lot of puree which can top $600 the first year. Hey, Baby’s gotta eat!

6 – 12 BOTTLES
Start with the 4-oz size when your baby’s teeny then move on to the 8-ouncers. Even if you’re breastfeeding, you’ll need bottles so Dad can feed baby, too. One three-pack of Playtex’s Original Nurser 8-oz bottles is $3.99.

SOCKS
Baby’s kick these suckers off as a rule, so don’t go crazy investing in socks until you find what works for you, then plan on losing sock after sock. Socks are like bibs, though. Don’t spend a lot on them; don’t spend more than $1.29 a pair.