Reply to Why do children get MORE expensive as they get older?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old"  My foot!  I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.[/quote]

Just because you can't imagine it, doesn't mean it isn't true.  I'm sure you thought people were exaggerating about how hard it was to have kids, now you have one.  Guess what, it's true. [/quote]

Again, please, break down your budget showing that the inelastic costs of infant/toddler years are less than the inelastic costs of an older child. [/quote]

Again, please know that I breastfed and spent NOTHING on supplies (okay, I got a $100 pump at my shower and had to buy milk storage bags sometimes. The idea that medical costs for a baby are so high, or that Hypoallergenic formula PLUS breastfeeding supplies PLUE nanny and emergency nannies is the norm is ridiculous. Hell, I cloth diapered three kids for less than $1000.

So $2000/month for childcare while you are earning a salary. Do we spend 75K on our three kids in a year, factoring in size of home, groceries for 5, their clothing, sports, vacations, hobbies, sports, schooling etc? Absolutely. We blow that number away. However, of course many of the things that we choose to do (like ski) are not "necessary". I'm in no way saying it is. So just like I find the previous post absolutely ridiculous (I mean, really, for a person of normal intelligence, how much can you really spend on BREASTFEEDING SUPPLIES in addition to fancy formula?) many people may find our costs ridiculous. Isn't it possible that for some of us babyhood is cheaper and for others, who have active kids and hobbies of their own, the older years are more expensive?[/quote]

Are you the SAHM?  Here's what I spend on breastfeeding supplies.

Private lactation consultants:  $400
Hospital grade pump rental for work (pre-ACA): $200 for one year 
Second pump for home:  $150
Bags, bottles, flanges, pumping bras etc:  at least $300 (probably underestimate)
Mini fridge to store milk at work (admittedly this was an extra but made things much easier): $100

so yea, that gets you up to a $1000

PLUS! my baby had to be supplemented about 8 -12 oz/day from 4 months on.  That was very expensive since we had to use hypoallergenic formula, but probably would have been at least $300-$400 even for normal formula.  
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