How Much Does Clothing Cost for a Baby Per Year

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Starting a family – how much does a baby cost?

Starting a family unit Family finances Budgeting

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

The average cost of the starting time 12 months alone is £6,000 – or £500 a month – according to research by the insurer LV, and many parents choose to go manner higher up this figure. The good news is, you lot don't have to.

At that place are lots of ways to keep the costs of raising your child down – and information technology all starts with planning before your little 1 fifty-fifty arrives.

This article volition encompass:

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

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

What to buy when expecting a baby

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

While there are some things you can't do without, lots of things really aren't necessary and many more than y'all tin can get second hand. You tin use the money you save to invest for your child's hereafter instead.

The Essentials

1. A car seat
   New, equally you need to know the car seat has never been in an accident. Average price: £100 – £200
2. Dress
   Don't spend likewise much on baby clothing; babies abound fast. Plus you will probable get given some cute babe outfits as presents from generous friends and family unit. But practise become several onesies, and buy plenty of bed linen and muslins. Boilerplate cost: £l – £sixty
3. Nappies
   In the first few weeks, disposable nappies tend to be easiest. Buy in bulk! Average cost: £12 – £24 in the first calendar month
4. Nutrient
   If you lot're breastfeeding, you will need piece of cake-admission underwear and article of clothing (although don't buy too much in instance you tin't breastfeed for long), plus peradventure a chest-pump and a few bottles. For bottle feeding, you'll demand formula, sterilising equipment, and bottles. Average cost: £50 – £100
5. Moses handbasket
   Your baby volition sleep in a Moses handbasket or crib in your room for the beginning six months. Y'all can purchase 2d hand, only invest in a new mattress. Average price: £70 for a new basket, £20 for a mattress
6. Infant bathroom
   A large washing up bowl will do, but a baby bath on a stand tin salve your dorsum. Average toll: £25
7. Pram
   A travel system including a machine seat, carrycot, and pram tin can work out cheaper overall. Average cost: £150 – £1,000
8. Changing bag
   You'll demand somewhere to put everything when y'all're out and about, but a normal rucksack or holdall is fine. Average cost: £25

The Non-Essentials

1. Play mat
   Important for development, only a coating with a few toys does the same job. Average cost: £25
2. Baby bouncer
   Somewhere safe to put your baby while y'all go to the loo! Average cost: £twenty – £300
3. Changing mat
   Handy and easy to clean, although a folded upwards towel works just as well. Average price: £7

Motherhood and paternity leave

Having a infant isn't just expensive because of all the things you lot have to buy, but the fourth dimension off work means there is less coin coming in.

• Statutory maternity leave
  • lasts 52 weeks
  • simply 39 weeks have to exist paid
  • after the outset half dozen weeks, the corporeality you receive may fall from xc% of your earnings to just £151.97 per week for the side by side 33 weeks
  • some companies offering more, and then check with your Hour department

Every bit long as your partner has been in their job for nine months, they should qualify for two weeks of paternity leave (male or female in a same sex couple) on at to the lowest degree £151.97 per calendar week.

Some employers offering total pay during the fortnight so it'due south a good idea to check.

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

Price-cut tips

• Use a gratis baby costs calculator to go an idea of how much y'all will spend.
• Await out for special offers. I got a £150 car seat for £50 by choosing a less popular colour (my son definitely does not care!).
• Join local parents' groups online. They are a great source of free and cut-toll gear.
• Don't buy likewise many toys – that's what friends and family are for.
• You're going to be doing lots of washing! Then if your washing machine is on its last legs, become a new one in the sales.
• Read our article on the toll of childcare: what assistance is available?

What to do during the early days

Starting time grin, first express joy, offset eight-hour slumber (hopefully) – there are many incredible moments in the first six months. Lots more things to buy as well!

Equipment that you will need

As in the commencement few months, you lot volition need certain items. They don't need to cost the earth, though.

• Cot – a 2d-mitt one with a new mattress is a smashing shout. A cot-bed, which turns into a toddler bed, is even meliorate.
  • Average cost: From £70 new
• Baby monitor – you'll probably demand a monitor one time your baby starts sleeping in his or her own room. Come across if any local mums have one they don't use anymore hiding in a cupboard.
  • Average cost: £20 – £250
• Nappies – washable nappies are an eco-friendly fashion to become around the estimated £261 a year y'all will otherwise spend. In my experience, they're bang-up for daytime usage at home, non so bang-up for travelling or overnight.
  • Average price: £150
• Stair gates – one time your baby starts crawling, you need to secure the stairs to prevent accidents.
  • Average toll: £15 – £50
• High chair – vital for mealtimes, just you can become one second-hand.
  • Average cost: £30 – £300 new
• Playpen – non essential, but it is useful. Why non utilise a travel cot as a play-pen – then it can double up as a bed when you go away?
  • Average cost: £30

Childcare costs

Childcare fees make up a big percentage of the cost of raising a child if you go back to work. Government figures advise parents typically spend £242 a week for 50 hours of full fourth dimension care for a child nether 2 in England and Wales.

You may be able to reduce your neb by up to 20% by applying for tax-free childcare.

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

Cost-cutting tips

• If you earn nether £60,000, apply for child do good equally soon as you can after the birth. You will probably become a leaflet about it at the hospital or when you register the nativity.
• See if you tin borrow items you will need short term, such equally stair gates, from friends.
• If yous cull reusable nappies, check whether your local council offers a voucher that can become towards paying for them, or a free nappy kit.

Toddling and beyond

According to the Child Poverty Action Grouping, raising a kid to the age of 18 costs a typical couple an eye-watering £151,000. This includes housing and childcare costs. That's around £8,389 a yr, or £699 a month.

Only while nutrient bills will go upward over time, other costs should start to fall.

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

Nutrient

Well-nigh babies outset eating proper nutrient at around six months. You lot might exist surprised by the difference this makes to your weekly food shop.

Prepare-fabricated pouches are undoubtedly user-friendly when you're on the go, but cooking their meals yourself gives you more than command and should work out cheaper as well.

The quicker you tin get them eating more or less the same as you, the easier it is to save.

Childcare

When your baby reaches the age of three, you tin start claiming 15 – or in some case upwards to thirty – hours' complimentary childcare a calendar week.

Primary school starts the September after the kid turns four, at which point your costs could drop to around £60 a calendar week if you just need later on-schoolhouse care. Notice out more about how to go on down the costs of childcare.

Cost-cut tips

• New mums are entitled to free prescriptions and dental care in the first 12 months. Then get your teeth checked before your baby turns one!
• Continue buying second-manus clothes – these are really handy for plant nursery, where your child will probably get covered in nutrient and pigment. Go on an heart out for second-hand toys too.
• Do babysitting swaps with local parents.
• Sell on anything you no longer need.
• Your local library can frequently be the all-time place to find gratuitous activities, too as books and toys to borrow.
• Apps such as Mush tin be a skillful way 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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