The cost of children

There it was, glaring at me from my email inbox, yet another estimate on the cost of raising a child.  I'm strangely addicted to these estimated amounts, you know.  This one was citing $11,000 per year, (although it wasn't clear whether they meant that amount was the minimum salary a family could bring in and still afford a child or if they meant it cost $11,000 just in child-based expenses) and I can't help but wonder who these estimates are using as their census base.

I broached the topic with a few people, a couple of friends and my butcher and his wife, and everyone seemed to agree that they did not spend that amount.  And I certainly agree that David and I did not spend that amount.  I tried to think back to how much it cost us to bring Samuel home and raise him to 11 months - essentially the costs of one year.

At first I figured that the initial year would be the most expensive because that's when you tend to buy a whole bunch of big ticket items all at once.  Then I revised that because, at least for the families I know (though I know a lot of people fall outside of this generalization) the first year is also filled with baby showers and gifts and that sort of thing - so your out-of-pocket expenses are probably lower than in subsequent years.  But it isn't fair to exclude gifts from the total amount, so if I'd had to buy everything myself, how much did that first year cost?

All transportation costs, from gas to travel to my OB appointments to the taxis I had to take to the emergency room = $190

All medications, including three rounds of antibiotics, my prenatal vitamins, a breathing treatment kit, etc. = $154

Clothing (he started in a 3-6 mth. size, then 6-9, 9-12 and he's currently in 12-18.  Assuming he had 25 pieces of clothing in each size and everything was purchased 2nd hand at the current rate at my 2nd hand store) 100 items X .25 cents per item = $25.  Inlcude another ten dollars for shoes and his snowsuit = $35.

Breast pump, bottles, soothers, sippy cups, milk storage bags, etc. = $242

Diapers, a starter kit of cloth diapers plus miscellaneous extras and about 11 packages of disposables and, say, 20 packs of diaper wipes. = $463 (assuming I bought the cloth ones new.)

Pre-natal classes, 1 pregnancy test, money for our 6-day hospital stay, phone cards to call family and other bits and pieces = $230

A bassinette, a convertible crib with mattress, sheets, stroller, two baby carriers and two carseats = $1109

Toys, books = $250

Anything else (thank you cards for gifts, film processing, a box of organic baby cereal he never ate, etc.) = $30.

Grand total = $2703.00

I imagine the costs will go down from here on in.  The crib we have converts to a toddler bed, and the carseat we recently bought will hold him up to, I believe, 40lbs front facing and up to 6 years old.  His book collection is extensive and will see us for several more years, although we'll probably add to both that and toys anyway.  His clothing costs will stay about the same, etc.

I imagine if I were to factor in laundry costs it may add an extra $100 over the year in detergent and laundromat fees.  I could probably blame a bit of my hydro bill on the baby, seeing as I keep the room he's sleeping in at a balmier temp. than the rest of the house, but even so.

I feel like these estimates scare people away from having children.  The fact is that even if I were to have another baby 80% of those fees would be negated simply because I already own that stuff.  Sure, hospital fees and gas and everything might come up again, but in general baby #2 would cost, oh maybe a few hundred dollars in the first year.

And this little boy...how do you put a price on that face?