Who would think that such an expensive thing could come in such a cute little package? Between hospital costs, diapers, food and everything else, Baby‘s arrival is sure to make you a bit lighter in the wallet. So what sort of costs should you plan for?
Prenatal costs
Baby costs can start piling up even before Baby is born. Prenatal vitamins are sure to ring you up quite a bit, as might the cost of your food if you’ve made major changes to your diet. Maternity clothes, prenatal classes, and healthcare provider appointments may also start to add up. These amounts can vary quite a bit depending on your insurance coverage, out-of-pocket maximums, dietary changes, what sort of prenatal classes you choose to take, and how many new clothes you need or choose to buy.
Ways to save:
- Ask your OB provider what they can prescribe. Sometimes prenatal vitamins, blood pressure cuffs, support belts, compression socks and more can be ordered through insurance and save you cash!
- Contact your insurance carrier to get a clear estimate of costs. Often prenatal care is bundled – meaning that you can get an overall estimate of costs for the entire pregnancy. This may allow you to budget more effectively or develop a payment plan with your OB provider’s office. If your OB office is part of a not-for-profit hospital, be sure to ask about charity care income limits.
- Pregnancy clothes are often worn a handful of times or not at all! Thrift stores and sites will often have new or like new options for a fraction of the cost. Local mom’s groups will often have some great options too.
- Opt for clothing that will stretch to fit your pregnant and postpartum body. Getting 2 years out of something is much more cost effective!
- Hospital based classes will almost always give you a discount if you’re unable to pay the full amount for a birthing or breastfeeding class where you plan to give birth. Online classes are sometimes discounted at various times of year, and it’s always worth contacting the vendor to ask for a code.
Hospital costs
Like prenatal care, giving birth is often a bundled fee. It may be outlined in your insurance information very clearly, or you may have to contact your insurance carrier to find out that information and any possible surcharges to be aware of. If the cost is not clear, expect to meet/pay your out of pocket maximum for the year (which should be easy to find). Again, if you plan to give birth in a not-for-profit hospital, you are often eligible for financial support. Each hospital has their own income guidelines to determine this, so you’ll need to contact their billing or financial office. Organizations like Dollar For can also help people navigate this system.
Initial baby needs
So you’ve already dropped a few hundred or thousand dollars, and Baby is just now arriving! But what else do you need, and how can you save? At a minimum, you should make sure that you have all the items you’ll need for your little one’s first days – like a crib and mattress, car seat, first clothes, diapers, wipes, and other grooming and body care supplies – ready to go before they are born. Certainly, you can keep things rather simple to get started, though many parents also want to use this time to get some of the extra items that they’ll need very soon – like a stroller, additional baby gear, toys, extra clothes, and even items to baby-proof your house once your little one is on the move. After all, you’re not going to be any less busy once Baby arrives. In terms of how much damage this might do to your wallet, again, there is a huge range here. Will you be purchasing new items? Outfitting a whole nursery? Are family and friends planning to graciously gift you with a lot of baby registry items at a shower?
If you’re looking to cut costs or reduce waste, there are great ways to do this locally and online through thrift shops, baby groups, and other parent organizations. People are often very excited to pass on a variety of items and de-clutter! If you go the second-hand route, just make sure that anything you get – like a previously used or older crib or car seat – hasn’t been recalled and meets the latest safety standards. It’s okay to invest in an item you know will last and be used frequently, like a stroller. If you’re looking to cut costs, buy only what you know you need or can confidently re-sell.
Ongoing costs
Now that those big-ticket items are out of the way you’re in the clear right? Well, not exactly. Once you have all those initial essentials, there’s still a lot more that you’ll be buying over the next 18+ years. Some estimate a cost of about $50/week for baby’s food, clothes, and diapers, but this figure doesn’t include some major costs, like insurance, childcare, or formula. And if you want to buy toys, books, or make a special trip to Disney World on top of that, you will, of course, want to save and budget accordingly.
The bottom line
Raising a baby certainly isn’t cheap, but there are definitely ways to cut costs. And all families are different. What might be a necessity for one family, might not work for or not be needed by another. So make sure you have the essentials, then go from there in a way that works for you.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
