what does a baby costs?

Please don't let the cost of raising a family put you off. Most people actually start a family when they are probably financially least able to. Most people also struggle through somehow and make a wonderful, caring place for their children to grow! Think about your own parents' situation when you were born. This seemed to me a good article showing the (frightening) costs of raising children: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000320h.cfm Do remember, however, that although the costs seem to add to a lot, they are spread out over the years. Also, children are one of the most enjoyable investments you can have.

The joy and love a new baby brings can't really be compared to the cost of bringing them up. My wife and I didn't have a lot of money coming in when we decided to start a family, but we got by, and are very happy we decided to have a baby when we felt the time was right, rather than waiting until we were financially secure. Otherwise, we'd still be waiting, lol!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle-income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into: * $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, or * $171.08 a week. * That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last! * Glimpses of God every day. * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. * A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain. * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day. For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek, * catch lightning bugs, and You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, * watching Saturday morning cartoons, * going to Disney movies, and * wishing on stars. * You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: * retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, * taking the training wheels off a bike, * removing a splinter, * filling a wading pool, * coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, * and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history to witness the: * first step, * first word, * first bra, * first date, and * first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So . . . One day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!! Love & enjoy your children!!!!!!!

Hi,where do you and your boyfriend go for the baby? is it that you decided to have a child(give birth) or you adopt? hahaha it's nice to experience parenthood, that's what i've also been waiting for. anyway not only would you consider the cost of caring for the baby but from when you become pregnant up to the time of delivery, i think this is the delicate period, it's when you're pregnant you begin to consider what you should put away for the baby to come. i think first look after yourself when pregnant and have enough healthy diet so that you have a strong and healthy delivered child, for the room when you live is where the baby lives too. yes, you've mentioned the things to take care of a baby. good luck, may you have the child you wish by God's grace.