The True Costs of Raising a Baby (30 month update)
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| BG jumping on her exercise ball*. |
- $1,313.03 for diapers (cloth and disposables), inserts, and wipes
- $26.76 for vitamin d drops
- $217.74 for kitchenware
- $269.51 for clothing (Canada)
- $830.31 for bed and bedding (Canada)
- $283.72 for clothing and bedding (from China)
- $1430.99 for gear (strollers, car seats, playpen, etc.)
- $408.41 for health and safety
- $746.66 for toys and books
- $503.36 for experiences
Grand total: $6,030.49
Looking back at all the expenses, nothing jumps out as a big money purchase. We did purchase BG a tablet. Mainly because the old iPad 2 we have is on its last legs. That and if we share our phone with BG, she'd be accustomed to taking our phone to watch her videos. This way, in theory, we can control when she watches better as she won't grab our phones. That's the theory. Mainly the reason is so Wifey doesn't have to give up her phone. Anyway, onto the tallies.
Diapers
We purchased some disposable diapers and wipes in December and April. We mainly purchased these for a road trip we took to Blue Mountain where we stayed for a couple of nights. Logistically, there wasn't a way to pack cloth diapers and bring them back home to launder. We did use cloth diapers at night and for naps. For the most part, BG didn't pee or poop much in the cloth diapers we brought. It actually turned out well as we needed more disposables a week later when we went to Niagara Falls unexpectedly. That was handy. We also started to use them when we go out for longer periods of time. Sometimes BG doesn't even pee in her diaper, so that's a plus. The cost of the diapers and wipes were $49.19 bringing the total cost of diapers, inserts, and wipes to $1,362.22.
Food
Same as before. BG is eating what we eat. We finally got around to opening the second bottle of vitamin D drops from the two-pack. The total remains the same at $26.76.
Kitchenware
We've done better here. We purchased a plastic bib that BG refuses to wear unless I'm the one to put it on her. Not sure why she refuses everyone else. We also bought doubles of the bottles wifey feels are good. Overall, this category only increased by $33.81 to $251.55.
Clothing
As BG grew taller, her wool pants used to cover her cloth diapers started to get shorter and tighter. As a result, we purchased more yarn for the mother-in-law to knit more or to expand the existing ones. This was the biggest cost in this category. Aside from that, we also bought suspenders for BG as some of the new pants were too loose... Hah! But BG was okay with suspenders. She even picked the suspenders to wear each morning. Additionally, we purchase more shoes for BG as she's outgrown the ones that were handed down or that we purchased last year. The clothing amount increased by $107.22 to $376.73.
Bed and Bedding
We didn't buy anything from this category. It remains at $830.31.
Clothing and Bedding (from China)
This total remains unchanged at $283.72 as we didn't buy anything from there as no one has gone back in months.
Gear
Amazingly, we didn't buy any gear here. I suppose we purchased enough the last couple years to carry us over until later. For now, this total stands at $1,430.99.
Health and Safety
We purchased an ice helmet for when BG goes skating. We also purchased bob skates so they go under her boots. We also picked up some toothbrushes and sunglasses for the summer. Overall, the total goes up by $54.67 to $463.08.
Toys and Books
The big money purchase here is a Plasmacar. Wifey saw BG ride the neighbour's Plasmacar so well, she figured we should get one for BG as well. So I waited until the price went low enough on Amazon before I pulled the trigger. It wasn't the lowest price ever, but ebates was offering 12% cashback, so I figured it was as good a time as any to buy it. This cost us around $55. The next big money purchase was a tablet. Normally, this tablet is $250 + taxes. However, Shoppers Drug Mart had this special where you spend your points to buy things and you will get 40% points back! Yeah, it was pretty sweet. You still need to pay tax on your purchase, so after everything was said and done, the tablet only cost us $40 or so. It's not an iPad, but it's good enough to play video from YouTube kids and that's all BG needs. Aside from those two items, everything else is little toys and books picked up here and there. We spent a total of $218.77 the last 6 months and this increased our total to $965.43.
Experiences
Lastly, we have experiences. We didn't spend money here as we already paid for a zoo membership and we went to free skating rinks. I suppose you could count the trip to Blue Mountain and Niagara Falls, but BG wasn't an extra cost as we were going anyway. This category remains at $503.36.
Looking back at all the expenses, nothing jumps out as a big money purchase. We did purchase BG a tablet. Mainly because the old iPad 2 we have is on its last legs. That and if we share our phone with BG, she'd be accustomed to taking our phone to watch her videos. This way, in theory, we can control when she watches better as she won't grab our phones. That's the theory. Mainly the reason is so Wifey doesn't have to give up her phone. Anyway, onto the tallies.
Diapers
We purchased some disposable diapers and wipes in December and April. We mainly purchased these for a road trip we took to Blue Mountain where we stayed for a couple of nights. Logistically, there wasn't a way to pack cloth diapers and bring them back home to launder. We did use cloth diapers at night and for naps. For the most part, BG didn't pee or poop much in the cloth diapers we brought. It actually turned out well as we needed more disposables a week later when we went to Niagara Falls unexpectedly. That was handy. We also started to use them when we go out for longer periods of time. Sometimes BG doesn't even pee in her diaper, so that's a plus. The cost of the diapers and wipes were $49.19 bringing the total cost of diapers, inserts, and wipes to $1,362.22.
Food
Same as before. BG is eating what we eat. We finally got around to opening the second bottle of vitamin D drops from the two-pack. The total remains the same at $26.76.
Kitchenware
We've done better here. We purchased a plastic bib that BG refuses to wear unless I'm the one to put it on her. Not sure why she refuses everyone else. We also bought doubles of the bottles wifey feels are good. Overall, this category only increased by $33.81 to $251.55.
Clothing
As BG grew taller, her wool pants used to cover her cloth diapers started to get shorter and tighter. As a result, we purchased more yarn for the mother-in-law to knit more or to expand the existing ones. This was the biggest cost in this category. Aside from that, we also bought suspenders for BG as some of the new pants were too loose... Hah! But BG was okay with suspenders. She even picked the suspenders to wear each morning. Additionally, we purchase more shoes for BG as she's outgrown the ones that were handed down or that we purchased last year. The clothing amount increased by $107.22 to $376.73.
Bed and Bedding
We didn't buy anything from this category. It remains at $830.31.
Clothing and Bedding (from China)
This total remains unchanged at $283.72 as we didn't buy anything from there as no one has gone back in months.
Gear
Amazingly, we didn't buy any gear here. I suppose we purchased enough the last couple years to carry us over until later. For now, this total stands at $1,430.99.
Health and Safety
We purchased an ice helmet for when BG goes skating. We also purchased bob skates so they go under her boots. We also picked up some toothbrushes and sunglasses for the summer. Overall, the total goes up by $54.67 to $463.08.
Toys and Books
The big money purchase here is a Plasmacar. Wifey saw BG ride the neighbour's Plasmacar so well, she figured we should get one for BG as well. So I waited until the price went low enough on Amazon before I pulled the trigger. It wasn't the lowest price ever, but ebates was offering 12% cashback, so I figured it was as good a time as any to buy it. This cost us around $55. The next big money purchase was a tablet. Normally, this tablet is $250 + taxes. However, Shoppers Drug Mart had this special where you spend your points to buy things and you will get 40% points back! Yeah, it was pretty sweet. You still need to pay tax on your purchase, so after everything was said and done, the tablet only cost us $40 or so. It's not an iPad, but it's good enough to play video from YouTube kids and that's all BG needs. Aside from those two items, everything else is little toys and books picked up here and there. We spent a total of $218.77 the last 6 months and this increased our total to $965.43.
Experiences
Lastly, we have experiences. We didn't spend money here as we already paid for a zoo membership and we went to free skating rinks. I suppose you could count the trip to Blue Mountain and Niagara Falls, but BG wasn't an extra cost as we were going anyway. This category remains at $503.36.
I'll summarize everything again.
- $1,362.22 for diapers (cloth and disposables), inserts, and wipes
- $26.76 for vitamin d drops
- $251.55 for kitchenware
- $376.73 for clothing (Canada)
- $830.31 for bed and bedding (Canada)
- $283.72 for clothing and bedding (from China)
- $1430.99 for gear (strollers, car seats, playpen, etc.)
- $463.08 for health and safety
- $965.43 for toys and books
- $503.36 for experiences
Grand total: $6,494.15
Amazing! The past six months, we only managed to spend $463.66.
BG doesn't need more stuff as she already has plenty of toys and stuff. However, we do buy her things now and then.
Looking towards the next 6 months, I really don't foresee buying anything too crazy. We really don't need anything else and BG already has a lot of toys and books. I expect we'll buy more toys and books if the prices are right, but really, I just can't see us purchasing anything more.
*I know, exercise ball? Well, she loves jumping and sitting on her $4 Walmart ball. The problem is that she could completely pop the ball if she keeps doing it as the Walmart ball isn't exactly strong. So the solution, my solution, was to purchase an exercise ball for her to jump on to her heart's content. She loves it.
Amazing! The past six months, we only managed to spend $463.66.
BG doesn't need more stuff as she already has plenty of toys and stuff. However, we do buy her things now and then.
Looking towards the next 6 months, I really don't foresee buying anything too crazy. We really don't need anything else and BG already has a lot of toys and books. I expect we'll buy more toys and books if the prices are right, but really, I just can't see us purchasing anything more.
*I know, exercise ball? Well, she loves jumping and sitting on her $4 Walmart ball. The problem is that she could completely pop the ball if she keeps doing it as the Walmart ball isn't exactly strong. So the solution, my solution, was to purchase an exercise ball for her to jump on to her heart's content. She loves it.
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