Have you been wondering if you can afford to have a kid? Raising children can be a priceless experience, but it does come with significant costs. As a new parent, you’ll face many expenses, from supplies such as bottles and diapers to equipment like a stroller and car seat.
Learn what you can expect for costs in the baby’s first year, along with the average costs of raising a child.
Key Takeaways
- Major costs in a baby’s first year include hospital bills for child delivery or adoption fees, and equipment for a nursery.
- Ongoing costs include food, diapers, child care, and perhaps savings contributions for a college plan.
- It costs an average of more than $16,000 per year to raise a child in 2021, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics (adjusted for inflation).
One-Time Expenses in the Baby’s First Year
When you are welcoming your first baby, there are many unknowns. Among other concerns, you may be wondering what you need to buy and ultimately what it will cost to become a parent.
The average annual costs for raising a child vary considerably depending on the child’s age as well as your household income.1 Households with higher incomes tend to spend much more.
Here are the main costs you should be aware of as potential additional expenses for the first year.
Nursery and Home Setup
Preparing for a baby involves setting up a space and getting all the things you’ll need. Here’s a checklist of some items babies may need, with their price estimates:23
| Item | Average Cost |
| Crib | $120 to $1,000 |
| Crib mattress | $40 to $400 |
| Dresser | $80 to $500 |
| Electric breast pump | $100 to $500 |
| Nursery rocking chair | $100 to $800 |
| Stroller | $45 to $1,300 |
| Bassinet/cradle | $70 to $260 |
| Infant car seat | $50 to $500 |
| Changing table and pad | $60 to $500 |
| Baby gates | $15 to $200 |
| Play yard | $50 to $300 |
| High chair | $40 to $400 |
| Baby swing | $55 to $270 |
| Front carrier | $30 to $180 |
| Nursing bras (3) | About $75 |
| Crib bedding | $40 to $600 |
| Bottles | $10 to $90 |
| Activity center | $40 to $130 |
| Bouncer seat | $30 to $350 |
| Baby monitor | $20 to $400 |
| Diaper bag | $25 to $200 |
| Mobile | $20 to $60 |
| Humidifier | $15 to $250 |
| Nursing pillow | $35 to $50 |
| Hamper | $20 to $60 |
| Lamp for nursery | $10 to $70 |
| Diaper pail | $20 to $80 |
| Baby bath | $20 to $40 |
| Pacifier | $3 to $15 |
Getting everything set up can easily cost a couple thousand dollars, depending on how you shop. Keep in mind that not all of these items are necessary. For example, an electric breast pump can be substituted for a much more affordable manual one. You may not even need a breast pump if you are using formula.
You might find secondhand items at lower prices. You may also get many of these items for free from friends or family who no longer need them, or you could receive them as gifts.
If you have a larger budget, you can find higher-end, designer items at higher prices. Many luxury baby items are well out of the average ranges stated above.
Baby Arrival Costs
If you are biological parents facing childbirth, the actual childbirth can carry significant costs in terms of hospital bills. According to 2016-2017 data collected by Fair Health Consumer, the national average cost for a vaginal child delivery was $12,290, while a C-section was $16,907.4
Note
Prices you will pay vary widely depending on where you deliver the baby, your insurance coverage, and the specific services you receive.
To get the most accurate estimate for your specific situation, consult with your doctor, the hospital where you will deliver, and your health insurance provider. You can also estimate the cost of a childbirth procedure by using reputable online tools, like the one from Fair Health. For example, a natural birth in Boise, Idaho, is estimated to cost $7,149, and insurance will pay an estimated $3,684 when your doctor is in-network.5
Adoptive parents will usually face significant costs for the adoption process. These costs vary widely, depending on whether the process is for an independent adoption or through an agency, for example. Adoption costs for international children can range from $5,000 to $40,000, while the cost of adopting a child in foster care is usually little to nothing.6
obviously like your web-site but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I’ll certainly come back again.