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I'm not an expert, but I do have 3 kids. I think the initial cost of things like car seat, crib, sheets, clothes may be expensive but after that I really think diapers are the most expensive thing. If you are planning to b___stfeed like me that will save you a lot of money. I probably spend about $8/week on diapers. Honestly it is not that bad. They are actually more expensive when they get older in school playing sports, doing activities, etc. Try not to worry about it. Doctor visits can be costly. I have $30 office visit co-pays. They usually go at 2 weeks, 2,4,6,12 months for well baby check-ups. Plus when they are sick, which mine hardly ever are. I can honestly tell you you most likely won't have to spend $200/month on your baby. (I shop yard sales for clothes)

Thank you Dani for your input. It helped a ton!!!! I am just trying to get my ducks in a row and figure out a budget for myself. Thanks again

I also agree with Dani, it should not cost you that much. The biggest part is getting everything the baby needs to start with. You can buy EVERYTHING at yardsales, consiegnment shops, etc. EXCEPT the carseat. Make sure and buy a new one. You never know if the carseat has been in an accident and if it has then there is a posibility it will not work again. Depending on your baby shower(s) you can ask for everything. When my mother did my baby shower, she asked everyone to bring a package of diapers as well as the gifts they were going to get. Amaya is 3 months old and we still havent had to buy diapers. You can return them for the type you plan on using. Also, I know people are going to bash me for this, but there are government programs that will help you out. You can probably get on WIC (they provide milk, eggs, cereal, cheese, juice, beans/peas, peanut b___ter, etc) If there is a chance you are not able to b___stfeed, then wic also provides formula (9 cans a month) It will help alot. Just remember, there have been mommys out there that have done it all with no help and no money. The baby doesnt need a $1000 bed and $300 crib bedding. You can buy alot of this stuff at garage sales for very cheap (that is where we got Amaya's and it was the exact same on I had on my registery, only instead of spending $450 on everything we got it all for I think $25) I know I keep going on and on but I just want you to know that it isnt that hard. Good luck with the pregnancy and the baby!!!

The cost no one has mentioned yet is day care. If you have a family member to watch your baby, that can be a big help. Otherwise there are government a__sistance programs that pay part of the cost of day care. The other posters are right, that you can buy almost everything used. I've only spent $225 on baby stuff, and I've already got everything...crib, mattress, bedding, stroller, car seat, clothes, bottles, lots of diapers, pack-n-play...I spent even less with my first baby (because I had almost no money). Diapers, wipes and food are the only things you truly have to buy all the time. Oh, about you and your boyfriend not getting along, I think that's pretty common when you first find out you're pregnant. My husband and I fought terribly the first few months of my first pregnancy. Looking back, a lot of it was my hormones (but I will never admit that to him).

Jbear, thank you very much for your post. Its nice to know that it is some one normal to be fighting with my b/f a lot in the begining. Believe me I am not trying to but every little thing p__ses me off. My hormones are going out of control. I am reading Jenny Mcarthys book "Belly Laughs" it is hilarious but she has one chapter that is t_tled Psycho b___h and it explains me to a T. Thanks to everyone and there posts.

yard sales are great but it's probably a good idea not to get the car seat OR crib at one. Unless you are sure the crib you are buying has not been recalled. There is a website that lists recalled items. Cribs and carseats are the two things I would break down and buy new just for the peace of mind.

I would have to say that our most expensive cost is definately day care. We pay over 700/mo for child care. $175 a week was the cheapest we could find for a place we were comfortable sending our little girl. Other than that it's really not that bad. I would say I spend about $50/mo on formula (Nestle Good Start) and I buy diapers at Target. They're always running sales for 2 for $16 and I always have a Pampers coupon for $2 off each so that makes them 6 bucks a pack. I agree with some of the other posts that almost everything can be bought at a garage sale except the car seat. It's just my personal opinion but I would also be very careful about crib selection. Older cribs did not have meet any certain guidelines regarding the spacing of the rails and new ones do. So even if you buy used, I would opt for something at least newer rather than older (even though antique cribs can be beautiful). Even if you can't find a decent used one, I used to be a social worker and I organized a program for single moms where we gave them a free crib and education. If there are no programs like that in your area (check with your local health department), I bought all those cribs at Wal-mart and I paid $99 for them, brand new. Also, I agree that yard sales are the perfect place for clothes. Just a tip, but if you shop the yard sales in the more "ritzy" areas of your city, you'll most likely find name brand, NEVER WORN stuff for next to nothing. That's what I did. I went to an area of St. Louis where the houses average about $750K (definatly NOT my normal area) and went yard saleing and found a Bugaboo Frog stroller hardly used at all for $50! (It's a $700 stoller if you haven't heard of it). Good luck with your baby and try to enjoy looking for the bargains.

Thats oure genius, I wish more ritzy people in my area had garage sales. They tend to donate their things.

I have spent very little on my first son who is three months old. I was going through a lot of diapers the first month but he goes through about half the amount that he used to. I would say about $6-8 a month is what I spend on diapers (pampers bought in bulk). I got most everything at my baby showers that I need for his first year. I b___stfeed but also put my name of formula websites mailing list and they have sent me free samples of formula and coupons. I agree with Stephanie that you can get things at yard sales, hand me downs, goodwill ect.. be very careful that it is in good condition so that the baby will not be injured by it. You should never buy a used car seat or crib.

if you think you can't afford the child you should've thought about that before you got pregnant. A baby is a wonderful thing and to start of by buying hand me downs and going to yard sales, don't even bother. Use birth control next time!

WTF, no one said they couldnt afford a child but first time mothers are curious about baby costs which is not a crime. Why dont you go to another post and be negative to someone else. You are extremely insensitive and no one appreciates your rude behavior.

To WTF...What's wrong with hand me down clothes for a baby? My husband and I both make decent money, but we have no shame in going to yard sales for decent baby things for our kids. Jessica, please don't worry. kids are not all that expensive as long as you budget, forgo all the fancy unecessary, brand new doo dads like travel systems with the infant carrier that you may use for 6 months (these items cost well over $150 brand new, but you can get them at garage sales for $50 or $60 bucks). If you do not want to b___stfeed, you do not have to. WIC programs are available to help you with formula costs. Start buying a little at a time now so far as clothing and diapers. If you are superst_tious, just keep all your receipts. Good luck to you.

I don't know where you live, but another great place to get baby clothes, blankets, towels, etc... are the discount stores like Marshalls, Ross, & TJ Maxx. They have really cute high-quality stuff (& some designer labels) for less than half of what it would cost at a department store. I also love eBay, I have gotten some great deals. I am on a limited budget too, but I have been able to get a lot of stuff that I love.

Hopefully someone will throw you a shower and you'll get a lot of stuff that you need. I was very fortunate in this department. If you register, only register for things you'll truly need. There are a ton of things that you can really get by without but they are just nice to have. You can get those later after you have all of your necessities. I b___stfeed and supplement with formula so I only spend $20 per month in formula. Diapers try to buy on sale and then use a coupon too. If you buy generic (didn't work too well for me but I would use them if I had to), you'll spend a lot less. I buy pampers and huggies and I spend about $10/ week if they aren't on sale and I have a $2 coupon. The thing that is killing us is the daycare. My sister watches him and it's only $400/month. If you go to a center, it will cost a ton more (my sister in law pays $190/week ugh!!!). Hopefully you don't have to worry about daycare. My husband and I argue about money now and we never did b4 so hopefully you and your bf can make it through. It's tough the first few weeks, especially if you b___stfeed. I would get so mad at my husband because I really thought he'd take more of an active roll. Now when I say can you hold the baby and he says no, I'm busy, I say your loss. They grow so fast and I want to cherish every minute of his life.

well i was 16 when i had my son (im now 17) and since i didnt have much money and my boyfriend had hard time finding work....i usually just shopped at yard sales or thrift stores...i mean i have found some pretty good things at yard sales...everyone thinks "oh yard sales...yuck" but really you can find some pretty good stuff...like i found Carters clothes for like a $1.00 a piece...and NO stains at all...i mean you cant go wrong....but with formula or diapers....thats where everything gets you.....i still b___stfeed my son but he also takes formula....for nursing pads i bought a nursing pad called "lily padz" its like a silicone pad that sticks to your b___st and prevents you from leaking...and all you have to do is wash it and it'll last for months...its great...and its clear so you dont see it and you dont always have to wear a nursing bra.....and when it comes to formula....i go to walmart and buy the off brand name of enfamil its only like $15 or so compared to $22 or whatever....and i found his stroller for only $20 (its a graco...great condition) and also i was given his car seat/carrier....and i found his crib (barely used at all no stains looked GREAT) for only like $40 (mattress included) so when people say dont even try to go to 2nd hand shops...it doesnt hurt to look....(now some stuff i would consider looking newer or at least check the safety recalls) but im sorry for you and your boyfriend having trouble....i wish you too the best of luck!! :) if you want to chat or anything...get back to me on here! hope i helped :)

I guess we should be glad for posters like WTF...they're the ones who go and buy all their baby stuff new, barely use it, and then donate it to thrift stores or sell it at yard sales so us "poor folks" can afford to dress our babies in nice clothes...If everyone in the world waited to have kids until they could buy everything new, the human race would be in danger of dying out. From what I've seen, the stores that specialize in baby gear really profit from the insecurities of new parents...I promise you, your baby is not going to look at their bedroom when you bring them home and say "That's not an eight-hundred dollar crib, take me back to the hospital!" As long as everything you get meets safety requirements, it's good enough.