How much would you spend..

[markio26]

Re: How much would you spend..

i would buy a nice throw... that is very soft... kids love binkys for the car ride... that should cost about twenty bucks... maybe a small toy to hold in their hands and mouth.. maybe a teething toy...

[jodi]

Re: How much would you spend..

My son was born two days before Christmas - very hard to shop for a 2 day old baby I decided that I would purchase savings bonds for the kids on each birthday - one grandmother buys them savings bonds for Christmas and the other buys them shares of stock. Any young children that I buy Christmas gifts for gets a $50 savings bonds and a small gift to open - usually a book or an outfit (total cost: about $30).
Honestly, I was never a big fan of the keepsake ornaments. Maybe my kids will enjoy them when they get older - maybe not. But a new baby will probably get plenty of those for Christmas.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: How much would you spend..

Last year I had a 2.5 month old, that was tough! (though easier than a 2.5 day old!)

I have three kids and we really do just a stocking and a gift...no need to drown them in gifts, they get plenty of time to play with theirs and their siblings. Christmas here is not about the present opening, it is about the present playing .

For a 6 month old I would get something like a 'hide in side' it is a soft cloth box, with I think 6 small toys inside. the toys rattle, or squeak, or crinkle, and have different textures/shapes. At 6 months your kid might be filling and dumping, or they may be just holding and shaking...(or more/less) but the hide inside concept will be fun even if he/she is only watching you shake stuff.

The actual hide inside I have is from discovery toys. but if you can sew you could prolly make one, and I am sure there are other companies that make them.

[MonkeyMama]

Re: How much would you spend..

Last year I had a 6 month old and I probably got him toys so he wouldn't feel left out (older sibling). My first got a high chair at 6 months from grandma. Clothes would be my first choice. Maybe an exersaucer. Just trying to think of things that may come in handy that you may not have yet. Clothes is probably #1. Diapers too - hehe.

They will be happy with the boxes and paper!!!!! That is for sure.

[dossin1]

Re: How much would you spend..

My dd was 4 months old her first Christmas, and she didn't have a clue. I think we got her 1 small toy and that was plenty. What we did though, was buy her a Christmas plaid sleeper and took lots of pictures of her under the tree. That was lots of fun. I don't think we really bought a significant amount of gifts until the kids were maybe 3 or 4. Before that they didn't really appreciate anything, it was just too overwhelming. I say save your money and put it in the college fund.

[Lonewolf]

Re: How much would you spend..

I'm in a similar situation with a 2 month old by the time Christmas rolls around. I have a 20 month old, who still to this day thinks its great to sit in a box and drink from her sip-cup, so I plan to take it light on presents. I like the idea of putting a little extra in their 529 plans, as they will get plenty of gifts from Grandparents and other family. Just enough under the tree to have the fun ripping and opening, and then time to enjoy each other.

Wolf

[Mabuisakura]

Re: How much would you spend..

Thank you! I also realized that the other famliy member wanna by her stuff so we are just going to buy her a couple little gifts for pictures and stuff like that! Thanks for all your input

[vishenda]

Re: How much would you spend..

"pillows pillows pillows", says the baby

[frugalmomof1]

Re: How much would you spend..

My DS was almost 3 months old last Christmas... I bought him some outfits and a bath time book (good to chew on!!). I didn't go nuts because 1) I knew my family would 2) I was just finishing up my 12 week maternity leave and didn't have extra money and 3) Its not easy taking an almost 3 month old shopping...in the cold..... with that huge stroller and no place to park!

[Mabuisakura]

Re: How much would you spend..

My DS was almost 3 months old last Christmas... I bought him some outfits and a bath time book (good to chew on!!). I didn't go nuts because 1) I knew my family would 2) I was just finishing up my 12 week maternity leave and didn't have extra money and 3) Its not easy taking an almost 3 month old shopping...in the cold..... with that huge stroller and no place to park!

I know what you mean. They should have new mother parking. I find it hard to good grocery shopping.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: How much would you spend..

Try a sling..easy to use and leaves two hands free..and no one steals the kid from a sling...nice in crowded places.

[BCHGRL]

Re: How much would you spend..

Perhaps you can buy new clothes if he/she is starting to outgrow his/her newborn outfits. If they have plenty of clothes for this season, I've seen plenty of spring clothes in stores already. I agree that a baby's first year ornament or savings or something else.

If you don't have a decent camera or camcorder, I would just buy something small for the baby and have the camera as a family gift. Not only is it a nice gift for yourself, you can make sure that your son or daughter's childhood is captured forever.

[tabbycat31]

Re: How much would you spend..

when my cousin was a baby, I bought her an outfit. Although she was much more interested in the box and tissue paper.

[Snoopy2645]

Re: How much would you spend..

I would buy a few things & save your money when they get older you will need it LOL!!! My brother got my niece one thing for xmas when she was that age it was $10 this year she got a car from him shes 17 now so it definetly gets expensive the older they get!!!! If you want to get the baby alot of toys because between 6-12 months they do play alot more you could also buy used toys on ebay because new stuff is super expensive & baby toys they dont play with much!!!

[The Budget Man]

Re: How much would you spend..

This discussion on how much we spend on babies has started me thinking about the different times in children's lives and how both the expenses and what they are for change so rapidly as a child grows.

Babies are cheap to look after. They don't demand expensive presents and aren't always needing to be run around.

Toddlers and young children are cheap though school expenses seem to come up quickly.

From about 12 on the expenses seem to go on an upward spiral...
The right clothes
The right toys
The clubs
The entertainment

Then the mid to late teens hit and the expenses explode.

Then they leave home and the expenses become irregular but big.

Then they start looking after you. Last week our daughter offered to pay for a holiday for us! What a turn around.

What are other people's experiences of the cost of kids?

Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man

https://www.personalitybudgeting.com

So you can get through the expensive times.