how much do children really cost?

I have all Taylahs baby gear, clothes, blankets etc.

If i was to have a girl i would need NOTHING. A boy would only need clothes & blankets, although i have a bit of unisex stuff.

How much does it really cost to have a 2nd child?

i have cloth nappies, but i do use them for Taylah so i might need to buy more, so all i can think of is nappies, wipes, what else??

Immediately not a lot more if you have most of the stuff although I could see having to buy the odd thing you didn't have for the first etc. Things you would've had but didn't know about or wanted but decided not a priority. We can say we won't buy them but realistically I would end up buying some stuff.

Stroller or adaptations for stroller so that you can wrangle both kids out and about. Is one of the biggies.

Down the track there is the cost of school/daycare and sports etc. But that is a while away.

We had 2 girls, so I thought we'd be set with clothes etc.. only I went and got pregnant during a different time of year, so when the second came along all the clothes don't fit during the right seasons!.. Not that I needed an excuse to buy more clothes really haha

I think also it depends on the age gap between the kids.. We didn't have to buy a second cot, as the first was ready for a bed by the time we needed the cot.. stuff like that..

Yah this is great.

The only things i know i want with #2 would be a baby carrier, i also figure that was i can push dd in a pram and have the baby in carrier. So id be spending a few hundred on that but i can always layby that

I spent more on clothes as no 2 was a girl, but I have used all of Jakes pjs and neutral stuff (I bought lots of white singlets and pale blues that a girl could use with him, just in case) and I could have probably spent a bit less than I have! Also got the buggy attachment and ended up with a double stroller, but that was a necessity. Don't forget about more car seats - we have had to buy two more due to needing them in both cars. And don't get me started on two in daycare!!! But yeah, initially they won't cost a huge amount more, just nappies, wipes, baby food and formula if you use it. We borrowed a highchair too, cos Jake still used his, but he was out of the cot. and there are small things like drink bottles / sipper cups / comfort toys / more bibs (mine were trashed and I still use them on Jake for dinner) etc

I swapped my pram - I've always wanted a P&T, now I have an excuse!
We got a few extra boys clothes from tm and the likes, and a kindy parent gave DH a pair of awesome boy toned animal nursery items.
I purchased an electric pump this time too, had no trouble feeding last time but was sooo shy and the manual pump was a bum! And a couple of merino bits and peices.

I've purchased bugger all I think...and what I have have been wants more than needs :) The only major thing would be a full new set of ittis, because DD will still be in her set of nappies

Edited by Flake

so when are you thinking of having #2? In a year or more? Would DD be out of nappies by that stage do you think? The only thing I can say is that we have a 5 yr age gap and because we had a girl first time around and boy this time we had to get pretty much everything as all clothes blankets etc were all girlie. We didn't have a cot anymore as we borrowed my sisters and then she needed it back when our DD was 1. All I will say is try and time in for say 2 1/2 - 3 yrs when your DD is most likely to be toilet trained and that way you won't need to buy anymore nappies.

Well im hoping the sooner the better

There will be at least a 2 yr age gap now, so we wont need a cot & hopefully i can start trying to toliet train dd so she wont be in nappies, ill hopefully start toliet training over summer when she turns 2 that way its warm & might be a bit easier.

I also figured if i dont find out the sex i wont be as tempted to buy lots of baby clothes like i did with dd knowing i could buy pink hehe

Well, we are having a 17-18 months gap and so far I have spent maybe an extra $50 on clothes (more singlets and nighties) - all on sale, got a couple more muslin wraps, and we'll be buying a new buggy which is the most expensive item.

Then newborn nappies, wipes, formula just in case... and that's it I think. If we have a girl I am sure grandparents will go nuts buying pink stuff and if it's a boy, we are all sorted.

Oh, and of course the extra preggy clothes (pregnant in the winter this time round) and the ob costs.

As babies- I definitely agree that they cost as much as you want them to! This time we're only buying a sling and a new carseat- even if it is a boy, I've decided we have enough neutrals! Nappies, wipes, formula eventually. When they get older however... school is definitely not free or low cost even, and our almost 9yo son eats more than DH & I put together!