Monthly Baby Costs: Month One


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We did it! We survived the first month of parenting for the second time! And… it was actually pretty fun. Okay, fun is a relative term, but the heart eye emoji (😍) times a billion pretty much sums up how we feel about our little one-month-old. For Sally’s first year, we documented each month, financial and otherwise, so we thought we’d do the same for Wynn. Ye’ve been warned. (Can we make ye’ve a thing, please?)

General Baby Thoughts

The first time around, Johnny and I were basket cases, stressing about every little detail of parenting. Why is she grunting all the time? (Newborns just do that.) What are those bumps on her face? (Baby acne.) Why do her eyes cross like that? (Again, newborns.) The questions were endless. Mostly, it was me stressing and then relaying my stress to Johnny at work with frantic texts with lots of exclamation points. But this time around, we’re just trying to savor every stage. Wynn will only be a cuddly, sleepy, tiny newborn for a very short time. Yes, we’re sleep deprived, but we have the perspective to know it’s temporary, and somehow that has made it a lot easier.

The bigger adjustment, truth be told, has been trying to divide our time between two kiddos. Sally and Johnny have become best buddies as of late since Wynn and I are kind of connected at the hip — because milk. We are miles ahead of where we were a few weeks ago with juggling the two-kid life, and I’m hoping it just keeps getting better. No, it must get better, or Johnny might divorce me from all the texts I send him at work when all hell breaks loose at home — which is several times a day right now.

As far as one-month milestones go, Wynn is gradually stretching out her nighttime feedings, which deserves a celebration complete with cake and ice cream. She is also starting to want to be awake more, and she’s just started grinning. Those moments are still a bit of a unicorn, so we’ve yet to catch one in a picture.

Financial Baby Updates

Diapers: We’ve spent money on one thing and one thing only this month for Wynn: diapers. And wipes. Okay, two things. My favorite diapers for newborns are Pampers Swaddlers because they keep in what needs to be kept in. And I use Pampers Baby Fresh wipes because… I love the way they smell. Important stuff, people! We’ve gone through the diapers the hospital gave us, one newborn size box of 128, and 2/3 of a size one box of 148. Oh, and a box of wipes. Whew, that’s a lot of diapers. And all of it cost us roughly $60 this month, thanks to Amazon and saving 20% using Amazon Mom with the Subscribe & Save feature. After the first month, babies slow down a bit with dirtying themselves, so this price should go down a bit next month.

Plane Tickets: We also purchased plane tickets this month to visit family next month, which we’re mostly doing so they can meet Wynn! We used our Southwest airline miles to fly out there, but we spent $360 for the flight home (also using some old JetBlue airline miles) in order to get a direct flight. We’re trying to minimize our travel time with two unpredictable little girls.

So the total for month one, not including plane tickets? $60. We’re lucky to be stocked up on baby clothes and gear since this is our second go around with a little girl. Wynn has yet to wear something that isn’t a hand-me-down! Oh, the life of the second child (and beneficiary of lots of sweet nieces and aunts)… And now, some pictures of our one-month-old, with some cameos by her older sister.

sallyandwynn

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We’re excited to share more updates from month to month! Any other information you’re interested in hearing in these updates? What do you do with a two-year-old who asks to be swaddled and tries to steal her sister’s pacifiers several times a day? Asking for a friend…

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20 Comments

  • Reply MomOfTwoPreciousGirls May 20, 2015 at 7:55 am

    The pics are precious!

    You can try giving Sally her own baby doll to care for. Make it a special thing for the big sister. The doll with a stroller and baby carrier could go a long way. Of course she just sees what you are doing with Wynn, and it takes your attention which will take time for her to be ok with sharing! Having her own baby means she can work side by side with you while you care do Wynn.

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 9:59 pm

      Thanks! And such a great idea. She has a baby doll already, but I tried letting her take care of it this week, and she LOVED it. She bathed the baby, fed the baby, and I helped her swaddle the baby. It was really cute and helped a lot!

  • Reply Racheal May 20, 2015 at 8:18 am

    Those two are just precious! I am so happy for you guys! I vaguely remember those newborn days and will be reliving them again shortly.

    My daughter recently discovered the stash of binkies I took out of storage and already started pretending to be a baby (kitty?). I would go ahead and swaddle Sally – it might keep her contained for a few extra minutes. Ha!

    I appreciate these financial updates – it will give me a two month warning on what I need to prepare our budget for. Nothing else to request, just keep those cute baby pictures coming! 🙂

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:05 pm

      How exciting!! So soon! You are going to love it… sure, it’s an adjustment, but we already can’t imagine our lives without two kiddos.

      And we have been swaddling Sally, haha. She asks us to wrap her up with her blanket each night in her crib… whatever makes her happy, I guess!

  • Reply Elle May 20, 2015 at 8:23 am

    Those are such beautiful pics of the girls! Congratulations on making it through the first month; can’t wait to see the fun those two will get into down the road.

  • Reply Tarynkay May 20, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    I am due in November and worrying about regression in my 3 1/2 year old. We had some experience with this when I started watching a 3 month old baby when my son was 2 and my son did the pacifier and bottle stealing thing. I just gave him his own paci and bottle of milk- once I gave in, it stopped being a big deal to him. He would spit the paci out after a couple of minutes. The bottle got old fast, too.

    I also made a really big deal about all of the big boy stuff he could do that the baby couldn’t do- like, “Wow! Look at you color! Babies can’t color. Only big kids can do that.” Or “Would you like a Popsicle? The baby can’t have one. Babies can’t have Popsicles, Popsicles are only for big kids.” But yeah, it was tough to deal with and I am expecting it to be worse with a full-time baby vs babysitting baby. Good luck!

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:09 pm

      Everyone I know out here who has a 3-yo and and newborn has had a super smooth transition. I think they’re just old enough to be ready for a new baby. I could be wrong, but fingers crossed it’s a smooth transition! And congrats, btw!!

      We have started trying to get Sal to realize she’s a big girl, but I really like some of the examples you gave! Great ideas. Thanks!

  • Reply Katie May 20, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    So sweet! Thank you for posting exactly how many diapers you have been through in a month. I kinda forgot about just how many flipping diapers those little babies go through!

    Praying someone throws us a diapers & wipes shower before September,
    Katie

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:14 pm

      Seriously! I’d forgotten, too! September will be here before you know it… so exciting!!

  • Reply Michelle May 20, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Ok, these little love bugs are sooo sweet! I can’t believe you only spent $60 bucks!

  • Reply Sam May 21, 2015 at 6:54 am

    Great article! One day I hope to be able to budget as well as you, $60 in a month is incredible! Thanks for sharing.

  • Reply Ali May 21, 2015 at 9:16 am

    So adorable! And $60 for a first month with a newborn is impressive! I would have imagined lots of extra costs for take out when you’re too tired to cook.

  • Reply Anne May 21, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Um, so you two make adorable children. In case no one has told you 😉

    I’m also in shock at how many diapers and wipes you got your hands on for $60, great job! Thanks for sharing too, I’m always nervous to buy the newborn diaper sizes for showers worrying they won’t use them all before needing larger sizes but it sounds like they go through the most when they’re teeny tiny.

    Hope you guys are able to get some sleep soon!

  • Reply Ramona May 21, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    OMG, overly cute 🙂

    We bought some wipes before my daughter was born, but I decided that, since I’m at home most of the time and we have running water in the house, I won’t use ‘chemicals’ on her behind. So, I just plop her on my arm and over the sink, wash her properly and that’s it. We do use wipes when we’re not at home (and I don’t have access to a clean sink), but otherwise they’re not being used too much.

    The costs with a kid are indeed high (in your case it’s even ‘worse’, since you have 2), but it’s the best ‘investment’ we made in our lives and she’s bringing us only happiness every day, as I’m sure your 2 angels also do for your family 😉

    Congratulations for the new arrival and may you all live healthy and happy for many many decades

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      Thanks, Ramona!

  • Reply Halsy May 21, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Wow, way to go only $60! I also second the suggestion of a baby doll to care for. I would suggest the wee baby Stella doll that comes with a magnetic pacifier. You can also buy accessories for it such as a baby carrier, basinett and clothes. It’s also a soft doll so that’s a plus when Sally tries to whack baby sister with it. At least that happens in our house! I think you will find you will spend way less on the second! My second just turned 1 (yay!) and I’ve spent far less on clothes, toys and even not buying into buying food pouches (except for on the go) and other pricy items I got sucked into the first time! I’ve been able to keep the “baby/kid” budget the same for the past year after adding our second and that includes buying diapers/pull ups and wipes for big sister (who refuses to completely potty train). That’s on my summer to do list-so her diaper money can go towards preschool!

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:31 pm

      We have the Stella doll! Sally loves it… she sleeps with it and Curious George every night! I hope you’re right with spending less on baby #2!

      And I feel ya on the child who refuses to fully potty train… this past week we saw some major regression! Ugh! I’ll figure it out when I’m a little less sleep-deprived… 🙂

  • Reply Christina May 23, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    Congrats on the newest addition to your family! Have you considered using cloth diapers? They are a HUGE money saver. Especially if you use them on multiple children.

    • Reply Joanna May 24, 2015 at 10:35 pm

      Thanks, Christina! We considered it before we had Sally, but ultimately decided to eat the extra costs of disposables just for convenience’s sake. I have friends who love ’em, though!

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